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University Introduces Harry Potter Law Course To 'Encourage Creative Thinking'

University Introduces Harry Potter Law Course To 'Encourage Creative Thinking'

The rule of law in a magical society, unforgivable curses and Quidditch are all on the curriculum

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

In the modern world, we try to invent ways of making even the most boring things fun.

Examples include In-flight entertainment, beer yoga and Twenty20 cricket.

And what could be more boring than studying for a law degree?

As such, it is only natural that you can now do a law course based on the magical world of Harry Potter and his pals.

PA

The course starts in December at one of India's top law universities in Kolkata, West Bengal. The idea is that students will use their imaginations to draw parallels between the stories in J.K. Rowling's novels and real-life scenarios.

For example, the course module draws comparisons between social class issues in India and the 'enslavement of house-elves and the marginalisation of werewolves' in the magical wizard books.

Other subject matter includes the ministry of magic, the persecution of Tom Riddle, the Wizengamot trials and the innocence of Sirius Black.

via GIPHY

The course's full title is 'An interface between Fantasy Fiction Literature and Law: Special focus on Rowling's Potterverse' and it has already reached its 40 student capacity, with many further students requesting that the class be expanded.

But before you start beating yourself with your broomstick for missing out on the opportunity, take some comfort from the fact that you never really had the option of doing the course, as it is only available as an elective to 4th and 5th year students of the B.A, LL.B (Hons) programme at the National University of Juridical Sciences.

The course was designed by Professor Shouvik Kumar Guha, who said he chose the fantasy novels as the basis for the course due to their unparalleled popularity in India.

Speaking to the BBC, he said: "In our current system, we simply tell students the black letter of law.

"Will they be able to apply pre-existing laws to situations that have never come up before?

"You can also see so many examples of how media is subverted by political institutions in the Potter books and see parallels in the real world.

"Rowling's universe talks a lot about how legal institutions are failing in some scenarios."

The course module opens with a Potter extract bound to get fantasy wizard nerds salivating:

"Are you planning to follow a career in Magical Law, Miss Granger?" asked Scrimgeour.

"No, I'm not," retorted Hermione. "I'm hoping to do some good in the world!"

Hermione must be a nightmare to teach, the precocious little fart sniffer.

via GIPHY

But to those reading this thinking the world has just gone mad, it hasn't just gone mad - it actually went mad in 2010 when Durham University introduced what is believed to be the world's first Harry Potter based course.

Since then, many universities in the US have started similar Pottery law courses.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Harry Potter, University, Education, India