I don't care about that study; it sounds ridiculous. But I was reading this article and thinking about the primary thing that always struck me about Rowling's novels -- there's a fuckload of racism and prejudice. Like, probably more than any other children's book ever. Someone is getting discriminated against or put down for being different on essentially every page.
I have long thought that the concept of mudblood/pureblood being the central conflict of a secret wizarding society is easily her most interesting contribution to fantasy canon. I actually was always disappointed that, having established this atmosphere steeped in racism etc throughout her books, the climax has nothing to do with it. It's about love. Fuck love. Those books could have been a lot more than they were. Maybe I've reread Tolkien 28 too many times, but I expect my fiction to make me think really hard about things.
Anyway, that's just what this article made me think of.
I very much disagree with "Fuck love". That sounds like such an angst-ridden thing to say. Despite whatever potential there may have been for "deeper narrative", it is so much more important a message - especially to kids - than you are giving it credit for. Dumbledore's role as a power figure is outside the norm in that its absolutely not a power thing. The dude is goofy and charming and if he weren't built up as the most powerful wizard at Hogwarts you would probably never guess it based on how he presents himself. It is important, so, so important, to sell the qualities of caring and love as the most positive in role models and in student-mentor relationships. I cannot stress that enough.