4 Dec 22 | Issue 44
I have Covid. So no deep philosophical debate on consumerism this week. My sense of taste has gone. There’s a joke in there somewhere. New subscribers please accept this repurposed piece of content, originally written for the bookpo.st blog as a holding pattern. Wait until next week to unsubscribe, when my sense of taste is back.
The World of Harry Potter. I’m not talking about the theme park, but the way characters from the books have entered into our real world, applying to non Harry Potter phenomena. So rather than calling someone a muggle, and then having to explain the expression and where you had originally read it, it’s become common parlance. Someone can use the name without having read the books and its origin.
I'm writing about Voldemorting, which Macmillan Dictionary has listed on its open dictionary in a submission by Kerry Maxwell (United Kingdom 02/09/2019) as:
deliberately avoiding the use of a particular name or keyword on social media
Voldemorting is anti SEO, because it is based on deforming keywords with metaphors and comparisons, so that search engines do not find that content.
The word was first described by Emily van der Nagel, a social media academic whose PhD covered pseudoanonymity, and a lecturer at Monash University in Australia. She credits coinage of the term itself to a 2013 discussion forum comment by user Eugene.
The character Voldemort in the books is so feared that his name can not be said and he is referred to as ‘He Who Must Not Be Named’. The term can be used as a noun, for example, using 'Cheeto' for a certain orange politician and reality tv star is a Voldemort. An example that perfectly shows why someone might want to rant about a personality without raising their hashtag or internet trending popularity.
Emily van der Nagel is interviewed by Mediaverse about the tactic at mediaverse.com.au/voldemorting-social-media-trend/
All good things come in threes, the adage states. I'm currently reading "Because Internet: understanding how language is changing" by Gretchen McCulloch. It's fascinating and recommended for anyone who loves words. So far the book hasn't mentioned Voldemorting but she has covered it in a column for Wired www.wired.com/story/voldemorting-ultimate-seo-diss-resident-linguist/.
That tenuous link makes two. Which leaves the third.
It’s December so we’re allowed to use the C word. Christmas. While we’re on this subject, what is with the sudden phenomena of publishing end-of-year lists on the first day of December? Consumerism has eliminated a twelfth of the year. It’s no longer a month but an extended shopping period for Christmas. Like booking a twelve day holiday, and being told on day eleven you have to go home. Publish a book or release a film in December and you do so into the void. You wont make this EOY list, and you can’t be in next year’s. Limbo. Capitalism has bent time.
Catalonians celebrate Christmas much like other Christian countries – presents, a special meal, a tree. Nativity scenes. Except, well… except that, along with a manger, the wisemen, the little baby Jesus himself, Joseph and Mary, and perhaps the odd donkey, Catalonians add an extra figure.
This figure is usually hidden in a corner of the barn. He is known as “El Caganer” and is not in the Bible as far as I know. Google translate won't help you with this one, but a good translation would be... the defecator. I am tempted to say I shit you not.
Yes, for this little chap is seen in his traditional red hat, with his breeches at half mast, and is crouching over an oversized pile of his own poo. No. Really.
What has this got to do with Harry Potter you say? Well the tradition of the figure dates back 300 years, a more recent addition to it has been the creation of "guest" caganers. Being featured is apparently a sign of honour if you're Catalonian. Much like being on The Simpsons or Extras (incidentally Thomas Pynchon has been on the Simpsons twice, which coincidentally is the number of known photos of him as an adult, so a visual Voldemort?).
Recently, as you've probably guessed, Harry Potter makes an appearance. Well, not exactly how you would expect. Not the star himself, not a range of characters, and no, not Voldemort either. The family firm of Caganer (www.caganer.com/en/info/who-we-are-4) have created a Hermione Granger. Just Hermione. On her own. Shitting herself.1
Slightly odd, even creepy maybe, judge for yourself at www.caganer.com/en/hermione-harry-potter-1102/295. Read up on more scatological Catalonian Christmas traditions here www.dailynews.com/2014/12/16/in-spain-pooping-ceramic-figures-of-famous-people-are-a-thing-really/
No surprise, a defecating peasant is this week’s recommendation. If you order now, there's time to get yours for hanging on the tree. Yes, this year they’ve done a decoration version. Personally, for the zeitgeist, I’m going with Harry Styles. The lyrics of Watermelon Sugar will never sound the same again.
https://caganer.com/en/caganer-harry-styles-1224
Even if you don’t buy one I recommend perusing the site, there are many questionable treats in store.
Since purchasing my pooing Hermione (as a gift for daughter mind, an avid HP fan) they have done Harry himself. But good news, this year they’ve singled out 11 from Stranger Things for your inappropriate pooing girl needs.
Speedy recovery, please, and hope you’re not feeling too grim. X