"Blond, Pink, and Porky". The Dehumanisation of Fat Characters Eating Sweets in British 20th-Century Children's Book Classics

Research output: Chapter in Book/Conference proceedingChapterScientificpeer-review

Abstract

In several English-language classics, a common denominator for depictions of fat characters is a gluttonous overeating of sweets. In this chapter, we study how the portrayal of sweets-eating boys in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series (1997–2007) reinforce stereotype notions through likening or transforming gluttonous fat characters into animals, particularly pigs. This results in a dehumanisation triggering a stereotypical view not only on the fat characters, but also on pigs. Drawing on theoretical views from the fields of fat studies and animal studies, we analyse the meanings and social implications of creating and repeating this stereotype.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCultural Perspectives on Sweets in Children's Literature and Media
EditorsSabine Planka, Corina Löwe
Place of PublicationNew York
PublisherRoutledge
Pages124-138
ISBN (Electronic)9781003570035
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 25 Apr 2025
MoE publication typeA3 Part of a book or another research book

Publication series

NameChildren's Literature and Culture
PublisherRoutledge

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