AIBU - to think the I heart JKR brand is using her identity, outside of her control?

[FindTheTruth]

When I see the I heart JKR posters I wonder how J.K. Rowling feels about her name and identity being used and having no control over it. (I'm assuming she hasn't been asked - could be wrong). Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. JKR controls her words. JKR controls the way in which her stories are translated into film. If this was you, would you give up any control of the use of your name?

I’ve just re-read [[https://www.jkrowling.com/opinions/j-k-rowling-writes-about-her-reasons-for-speaking-out-on-sex-and-gender-issues/ J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues
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In it she says "The one thing that gives me hope is that the women who can protest and organise, are doing so, and they have some truly decent men and trans people alongside them.".

And she says "All I’m asking – all I want – is for similar empathy, similar understanding, to be extended to the many millions of women whose sole crime is wanting their concerns to be heard without receiving threats and abuse."

I love JKR for saying this, BUT… Is it right to create a JKR brand that she has no control over?

A quick Google into the legal side of this (I’m no legal expert) shows that in the US, the ‘right of publicity’ is the right of a person to control and use his or her identity. But the UK does not recognise the right of publicity or any distinct right designed to protect an individual’s name from unauthorised use.

[GoldfishParade]

It's not using her "brand", it was posters just saying "I love jk rowling". I'm pretty sure if there were posters around my town saying they loved me, I'd feel pretty positive about it?

I dont get what your issue is here.

[LittleCabbage]

I get your point, but JKR can't control the many people who are (unfairly and erroneously) calling her transphobic. So at least this is people using her name positively.

And a way of showing solidarity with her and support for her. It can't be easy to be on the receiving end of the misogynistic abuse that is directed at her.

[exwhyzed]

I'm fairly certain that if JKR decided she wanted it to stop then she would say so.

She put her head above the parapet, the least the rest of us can do given many of us can't do much else is show support for her in whatever way we can.

[FindTheTruth]

@GoldfishParade

It's not using her "brand", it was posters just saying "I love jk rowling". I'm pretty sure if there were posters around my town saying they loved me, I'd feel pretty positive about it?

I dont get what your issue is here.

It's a good point. honestly, I'm torn about it.

on the one hand there's showing support, saying 'I heart JKR' ..I agree she deserves support.

on the other hand, it's used as a backdrop on a stage, platform or video or something else that she's not involved in. Which means she has no control over what is being said next to her name.

so I suppose it's the difference between support and control of identity

[persistentwoman]

It must be enraging as a public figure to have so little control over what is said about you. However, on balance, as she's been on the receiving end of so many death/ rape / violence threats I hope she can live with this as it's done by people being positive about her. As her recent fantastic book sales show - the silent majority are very much on her side.

[NecessaryScene1]

Had mixed feelings myself about this, both on this point, and efficacy compared to other potential brandings like the Adult Human Female.

But the key people doing the big billboards (and mass-producing stickers) are not anonymous, and JKR could privately ask them not to if she wanted. Or even publicly, if it came to that.

I don't think she's under any huge pressure to go along with it. We're not going to start sending her rape threats or disavow her if she asks us to cool it on use of her identity.

I think on balance it works - some people out of the loop may have heard something about JKR being a horrible bigot and not thought any more on the subject. Seeing a counter-poster like that (or hearing about it being removed) would trigger "oh, maybe there's a bit more to this" and prompt a bit more research.

This isn't aimed at the SJW loopy bookburning fully-signed-up cult members. (But provoking them is fun). It's aimed at the sane people who might have so far not questioned what they're hearing from the book-burners.

Of course, if JKR doesn't stop people putting "I heart JKR" posters up, that proves she's a transphobe. By her silence she's implicitly endorsing these transphobic messages and making trans people feel unsafe...

[SirSamuelVimes]

I also think if she didn't like them, she could probably contact Posie Parker and Christopher Elston and ask them to stop. I'm pretty sure they would?

Anyone else seen on twitter, Christopher Elston is aiming for an ad during the Superbowl? Loving the ambition!

[midgebabe]

which means she has no control over what is being said next to her name

This is odd

do you think she should refuse to let people say " we agree with what you are saying on this issue" until she has vetted everything those people might think and say? Do you think anyone has the right to control someone else's speech?

what they are expressing with the poster is their support for her, it's their opinion which they are allowed to have ( since it is compliant with free speech laws and not threatening violence )

[AltoCation]

It isn’t people changing her brand, it is people choosing to respond to the hatestorm in their own way, responding directly to the haters, saying ‘I support her and agree with her.

No one in the public eye expects to be able to have silence about their opinions / appearance / work etc.

What are you trying to do, OP? Curtail free expression?

We have TRAs trying to shut down people who voice an alternative opinion and now you want to shut down people who agree with her?

The message is “I love JKR” not “chop off your useless lady dick and choke yourself on it #RIP” which would be a more tit for tat response to the TRAs given their violent messages, but that would be beneath the principle of JKRs message.

[AltoCation]

OP: if you are concerned on her behalf, e mail her and ask her. Before suggesting quashing a campaign on her behalf.

[Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov]

I agree with you, I love it and agree with it but the more popular it gets the more it runs the risk of obfuscating what she says and her beliefs. Especially if her name becomes synonymous with actual bigotted transphobic groups, as opposed to being a voice of reason and calling for debate and discussion.

[Pelleas]

If JKR didn't want to be publicly associated with this cause, surely she would not have spoken out about it on public platforms.

She is famous as a writer - that doesn't oblige her to pass public comment on trans issues (or any other issues). She's chosen to do that, which would indicate she wants to use her influence (i.e. her 'brand') in support of a cause she believes in.

If she'd simply wanted to get an opinion out there, she could have done so under an anonymous name, which wouldn't have generated any publicity.

[Winesalot]

I do agree that she could reach out and gently say ‘stop’ if she was very worried. Is it actually increasing the threats or are they coming in at the same rate. Is it indirectly creating media that counters the harm caused by the first reviews that were so pitifully biased and blatantly wrong? I’d say it is creating opportunities for positive discussion as well. And of course, opening fact based and open discussion about the issues so they can be addressed is a good thing.

[FindTheTruth]

It's aimed at the sane people who might have so far not questioned what they're hearing from the book-burners

good point @NecessaryScene1

[FindTheTruth]

@persistentwoman

It must be enraging as a public figure to have so little control over what is said about you. However, on balance, as she's been on the receiving end of so many death/ rape / violence threats I hope she can live with this as it's done by people being positive about her. As her recent fantastic book sales show - the silent majority are very much on her side.

I agree and love that she's seeing support from the silent majority. she deserves support

[MeridaTheBold]

JKR is known for being forthright and for being litigious when necessary.
I find it both patronising and infantilising that you seem to be questioning her judgement on this and her ability to make her position clear.

[RuffleCrow]

I'm sure if she had a problem with it she'd be the first to let PP and co know. She's not exactly shy when it comes to litigation and tbh she'd probably just ring them up and have a quick word and that would be enough.

I reckon she's far more concerned by all the "RIPJKR" hasgtags from twitter misogynists tbh and welcomes a bit of balance.

Either way, there comes a time for every cultural icon where your influence is so bound up with popular culture that you have to pick your battles. Harry Potter, for example, seems to get referenced in 25% of the books and shows my kids enjoy. She's like Dickens or Shakespeare now.

[FindTheTruth]

@midgebabe

which means she has no control over what is being said next to her name

This is odd

do you think she should refuse to let people say " we agree with what you are saying on this issue" until she has vetted everything those people might think and say? Do you think anyone has the right to control someone else's speech?

what they are expressing with the poster is their support for her, it's their opinion which they are allowed to have ( since it is compliant with free speech laws and not threatening violence )

I think this is the crux of it. I have mixed feelings about it. I love seeing the support that she deserves. I love the posters and stickers and get a lift when I hear see them. I agree that what they are expressing with the poster is their support for her, it's their opinion which they are allowed to have. And NO I don't think anyone has the right to control someone else's speech.

The crux of it: when I see it used next to messaging by others or as a backdrop to messaging by others ... at that point I get mixed feelings about it. It's the difference between using it in isolation as public outpouring of support VS using it to present someone else's opinions.

I'm still wondering about it. and it's good to hear other's thoughts on this.

[RuffleCrow]

If you put that level of thought into pondering the problem of the death and rape threats she gets 24 hours a day you might be able to find a solution @findthetruth !

[Scout2016]

On the Feminism chat board there was a thread about the Edinburgh train station poster that was removed for being political and receiving complaints. Except a FOI request was answered and, actually, there was not one complaint made.
So they just took it down out of wokeism and cowardice.
It's things like that the galvanise supporters of JKR and freedom of speech to put up more. I get that she has become some sort of mascot and may not have planned to, but I don't think she's too upset about it. Not given her announcement of purchasing a "This which doesn't burn" t-shirt! She's really savvy.
JKR can't really control any merchandise, can she? I mean, if someone wants to wear a Harry Potter T-shirt on a National Front march, or in a distasteful film, there's not a lot she can do about it is there? That's the nature of merchandise. I appreciate that she may not have authorised the "I love JKR" posters and stickers but, as others have said, her press office are pretty hot. People who have written to her in support have had lovely replies. JKR is perfectly capable of asking everyone to cease if she felt uncomfortable. Really, all she has to do is a tweet saying "thanks, but could you all stop now please" and it would likely be respected.

[DaisiesandButtercups]

I share your concerns OP. I can’t vote on this because I can’t decide. On the one hand I love the T shirts and the posters and it is a simple positive message of appreciation which also shows support for women everywhere. On the other there is something that worries me about it which I can’t quite pin down. Reading what others say that she would surely mention it if she wanted it to stop is reassuring. I suppose that must be true.

It is a shame that the adult human female message was deemed beyond the pale!

[Gncq]

Sorry,
It's fucking brilliant.
The posters have made it to America ffs. Where all of this gender ideology bullshit began. Where Twitter lives.

The posters are encouraging others who have been bullied into silence into speaking up. The girls in Conneticut who had to race against those boys and lose out on their college scholarships, who were told to STFU. It's for them. The collegues of Maya Forstata who agree with her but can't say for fear of losing their job. It's for people like them. For everyone who agrees with JKR but are silent, it's reaching out to them.

Is your main issue with it all, a worry that what if a loony right wing white supremacist group supports the message and all go around wearing the T shirt under their Militia gear or something? And that'll look bad?
I don't think that'll ever happen.

[Gncq]

Sorry, bit late to this thread, it was linked to on another Active thread ....

[SirSamuelVimes]

@Gncq

Sorry,
It's fucking brilliant.
The posters have made it to America ffs. Where all of this gender ideology bullshit began. Where Twitter lives.

The posters are encouraging others who have been bullied into silence into speaking up. The girls in Conneticut who had to race against those boys and lose out on their college scholarships, who were told to STFU. It's for them. The collegues of Maya Forstata who agree with her but can't say for fear of losing their job. It's for people like them. For everyone who agrees with JKR but are silent, it's reaching out to them.

Is your main issue with it all, a worry that what if a loony right wing white supremacist group supports the message and all go around wearing the T shirt under their Militia gear or something? And that'll look bad?
I don't think that'll ever happen.

Yep, I'm in agreement with this. Plus I'm sure if JK had an issue with it she would ask them to stop, it's not like she's shying away from speaking her mind lately .