What does the wand choose?
Critical Magic Theory returns with Part 1 of a two-part series on wands, tracing what Ollivander's promise that "the wand chooses the wizard" actually determines about belonging in the wizarding world...
19 Aug 50min
Prof Responds: The Currency of Magic — Squibs & the Cost of Difference
In this Prof Responds episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Wamble digs into listener reactions from Patreon and Spotify to unpack what "squib" really means in the Wizarding World. Drawin...
12 Aug 53min
Squibs & the Myth of Who is Magical
What does it actually mean to be magical in the Wizarding World, and who gets to decide? On this episode of Critical Magic Theory, Professor Julian Wamble dives into one of Harry Potter's most overloo...
5 Aug 57min
The Mess, Mayhem, and Madness of the Ministry of Magic
Professor Julian Wamble kicks off Critical Magic Theory's summer series by unpacking the Ministry of Magic through Half-Blood Prince's opening chapter, "The Other Minister." Starting with Hagrid's off...
29 Juli 1h 5min
Prof Responds: The Great Half-Blood Reckoning
Professor Julian Wamble returns to the Half-Blood Showdown listener mailbag to dig into three of the community's sharpest debates: whether Dolores Umbridge outranking Voldemort as the series' worst vi...
22 Juli 42min
THE HALFBLOOD SHOWDOWN
Critical Magic Theory closes the book on Half-Bloods with one final superlatives showdown, capping off more than a year spent inside the wizarding world's largest and most varied blood-status category...
15 Juli 1h 17min
Prof Reponds: Harry Potter & the Politics of Worthiness
In this second Prof Responds episode, Professor Julian Wamble returns to listener comments from Critical Magic Theory's Patreon and Spotify communities for a deeper dive into Harry Potter's heroism, s...
8 Juli 1h 2min
Harry Potter is sick with Heroism
Harry Potter's heroism is contagious — in the best way and the most literal one. This episode tackles the back half of the Harry Potter survey, working through good half-blood, good Gryffindor, hero, ...
1 Juli 1h 11min
