Publish at May 22 2024 Updated May 22 2024
The beauty of fiction is that it always parallels our world, its systems and philosophies. The world of Harry Potter is no exception to this rule, as this episode of a series produced by France Culture shows. The young wizard's saga raises many philosophical questions that have been pondered by thinkers throughout human history.
This episode looks at the limits of power. Because even a world of magic has a few laws. Some spells are forbidden, which could be compared to fundamental human rights. Spells may not be used in the presence of non-wizards (muggles), but the legal sphere is blurred on this point. The hero of the saga was forced to do so once, but was not convicted by the court. Political power is also much vaguer than in our world: there is a minister, but no a priori electoral system.
There is also an inequality of rights reminiscent of apartheid, in that house elves, goblins and giants do not have the same rights as wizards. In the fifth instalment of the saga, a delegate sent from the Ministry of Magic becomes a teacher and then a Confessor intent on ruling Hogwarts entirely. This underlines the fact that state-of-emergency measures and actions against terrorism are often counterproductive, since they create more resistance. Indeed, the principal of the school himself plays on the limits, preferring to protest in the knowledge that it will lead to the end of the diabolical Voldemort.
Running time: 58:55
You might also like:
A fun game about heredity and genetics - Welcome to Thingdom
How do you talk to children about genetics and heredity? A British museum has come up with the method: design a game in which you create a line of adorable creatures with precise objectives. The game is fun, colorful and easy to learn. Even adults will succumb to the charms of the bugs and their large families.
The sharing economy has led to small changes in various economic sectors such as transportation, housing, etc. This approach has changed the relationship of citizens for different services, now cheaper and offered by their fellow citizens. However, who actually benefits from this new economy? The people or the companies in question? A U.S. newsgame shows how the life of Uber drivers isn't as lucrative as one might think.
"Phalenes! understanding natural selection through play
A serious game designed to demonstrate natural selection and its effects on a moth population.
Newscraft: the game that puts you in the shoes of a reporter
A serious game that explains and brings to life the notion of news selection and the editorial line of different types of media.
A multiplayer game designed for people with disabilities
Video games designed for people with disabilities are already a rare resource. An experience that allows multiple players is even rarer. Yet this latest creation from "Ludociels for All" challenges players to light up an entire maze by walking balls of light.
