“Queer Wizards and Neurodiversity” with Jes Battis

Let’s get magical! In this episode, Prof Jes Battis (University of Regina) explains why magic is queer (or why queerness is magical?) and how wizards and witches live out their queerness in medieval texts as well in contemporary retellings. Jes also conjures up wonderful examples of how neurodiversity, queerness and witchcraft are all linked. Side effects of listening to this spellbinding episode may include: a deeper understanding of neuroqueerness, latent transness turning into overt trans joy, an intense desire to read more young adult fiction. Ready to get enchanted? Follow @jesbattis and @queerlitpodcast on Twitter and Instagram for that extra glamour. Work by Jes mentioned:Occult Special Investigator and Parallel Parks seriesMastering the Game of Thrones (edited by Jes Battis and Susan Johnston)Supernatural Youth (edited by Jes Battis)Blood Relations: Chosen Family in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and AngelThinking Queerly: Medievalism, Wizardry, and Neurodiversity in YA TextsThe Winter Knight ( @ecwpress )https://jbattis.com/Other works, people and characters mentioned:Gandalf Lord of the RingsNick WalkerRemi YergeauNeuroqueerMerlinGrisandolusGabrielle Bychowskihttps://www.publicmedievalist.com/author/gabrielle-bychowski/The Prose MerlinTaliesin“Medieval Disney Queers” with Amy Louise Morganhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/51169776 Morgan Le FayThe Chilling Adventures of Sabrina SpellmanSir Gawain and the Green KnightTiresiasT.S. Eliot’s The Waste LandQueer As Fact: “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”https://queerasfact.podbean.com/e/sir-gawain-and-the-green-knight/ Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of AvalonWillow and Tara (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)Amy Rose Capetta and Cori McCarthy’s Once and FuturePercivalT.H. White’s The Sword in the Stone (The Once and Future King)“Wildness, Masculinity and Swimming Pools” with Jack Halberstamhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/46140271James Knowles’ King Arthur and his Knights (illustrated by Louis Rhead)Geoffrey of Monmouth’s The History of the Kings of Britain and the Life of MerlinCompulsory able-bodiednessRobert McRuer ablebodied gazePotterverseTolkien’s The HobbitUrsula K. Le GuinMichael Ende’s The Neverending StoryNnedi OkoraforNicola Griffith’s HildT.L. Huchu’s The Library of the Dead and Our Lady of Mysterious AilmentsImogen Binnie’s NevadaQuestions you should be able to respond to after listening:1.Which queer wizards does Jes talk about? 2.You are probably familiar with several of the supernatural beings mentioned in the episode. Have you ever thought about them as queer or neurodiverse?3.Jes and I talk about the parallels between compulsory able-bodiedness and compulsory heterosexuality. What are these parallels? Do you agree with this line of thinking?4.Please look up at least one of the scholars mentioned in the episode and find out a little more about their work.5.Can you think of other examples of wizards, witches or supernatural beings that can be read as queer or neurodiverse?