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[CCBC-Net] CCBC-Net Digest, Vol 25, Issue 6
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From: Gawel, Richard <rgawel>
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 12:24:49 -0500
Wow, there's a lot to digest when it comes to Harry Potter. Where to begin?
I think the greatest part of the phenomenon (aside from the books themselves and the generations of kids turned on to reading) is JK Rowling's fame. She's a writer, and she's treated like a rock star. She has more money than the Queen of England. And unlike a million other celebrities who cruise by on a family name or good looks, she earned it all by being such a d*** good writer. Last summer, my wife (Trish Jarrach, also on the list) and I got to see her at a reading at Radio City Music Hall with Stephen King and John Irving. They sold out two nights, and since then, I keep wondering why A-list writers like them don't do events like that more often. Go on tour. Meet thousands of fans. Sure, it may take the caliber of JK and Mr. King to get such sellout crowds, but it was about as good as any rock concert I've ever seen. I'd love to see more events like that.
There's been some debate about Mrs. Weasley's use of the "b" word. Bad authors steal. Good autors "pay homage." And I really think JK was paying homage to Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. And while I would have preferred to see Neville open a can of whoop-*** on Bellatrix since they have so much history, one of the themes of Book 7 was the deconstruction of Harry's perception of the adults around him. And seeing a kindly housewife like Mrs. Weasley turn lethal to protect her children is another example of Harry's expectations getting overturned. The use of the "B" word was completely appropriate. (And it's interesting that the debate is about Mrs. Weasley's choice of vocabulary and not that she probably used one of the three Unforgivable Curses to kill Bellatrix. Bad language? Terrible! Questionable use of overwhelming force when a stunning spell would do? *shrug...*)
And to take up Trish's suggestion, I'd agree that the only other pop culture phenomenon that comes close would be Star Wars. People similarly lined up for midnight showings and countdowns of all six movies now, and the cottage industries they've spawned in their own right have legions of fans of their own. In fact, there are different kinds of SW fans: do you write fanfiction? play the games? read the novels and comics? collect the toys? take part in costuming? dabble in a little of each, or do something entirely different? The difference is that while just about everybody went to see the movies, the hardcore fans are still "geeks" in the general public's perception. Meanwhile, while just about everybody reads Harry Potter now, the hardcore Harry Potter fans (who go to midnight sales, debate online, etc.) are more accepted by the mainstream. The difference in perception is interesting.
And if I were still in college, I'd look for any excuse to write a paper comparing and contrasting Aslan from Narnia and Harry as Christ figures. That's an angle that could use a thesis or two.
Received on Mon 06 Aug 2007 12:24:49 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2007 12:24:49 -0500
Wow, there's a lot to digest when it comes to Harry Potter. Where to begin?
I think the greatest part of the phenomenon (aside from the books themselves and the generations of kids turned on to reading) is JK Rowling's fame. She's a writer, and she's treated like a rock star. She has more money than the Queen of England. And unlike a million other celebrities who cruise by on a family name or good looks, she earned it all by being such a d*** good writer. Last summer, my wife (Trish Jarrach, also on the list) and I got to see her at a reading at Radio City Music Hall with Stephen King and John Irving. They sold out two nights, and since then, I keep wondering why A-list writers like them don't do events like that more often. Go on tour. Meet thousands of fans. Sure, it may take the caliber of JK and Mr. King to get such sellout crowds, but it was about as good as any rock concert I've ever seen. I'd love to see more events like that.
There's been some debate about Mrs. Weasley's use of the "b" word. Bad authors steal. Good autors "pay homage." And I really think JK was paying homage to Sigourney Weaver in Aliens. And while I would have preferred to see Neville open a can of whoop-*** on Bellatrix since they have so much history, one of the themes of Book 7 was the deconstruction of Harry's perception of the adults around him. And seeing a kindly housewife like Mrs. Weasley turn lethal to protect her children is another example of Harry's expectations getting overturned. The use of the "B" word was completely appropriate. (And it's interesting that the debate is about Mrs. Weasley's choice of vocabulary and not that she probably used one of the three Unforgivable Curses to kill Bellatrix. Bad language? Terrible! Questionable use of overwhelming force when a stunning spell would do? *shrug...*)
And to take up Trish's suggestion, I'd agree that the only other pop culture phenomenon that comes close would be Star Wars. People similarly lined up for midnight showings and countdowns of all six movies now, and the cottage industries they've spawned in their own right have legions of fans of their own. In fact, there are different kinds of SW fans: do you write fanfiction? play the games? read the novels and comics? collect the toys? take part in costuming? dabble in a little of each, or do something entirely different? The difference is that while just about everybody went to see the movies, the hardcore fans are still "geeks" in the general public's perception. Meanwhile, while just about everybody reads Harry Potter now, the hardcore Harry Potter fans (who go to midnight sales, debate online, etc.) are more accepted by the mainstream. The difference in perception is interesting.
And if I were still in college, I'd look for any excuse to write a paper comparing and contrasting Aslan from Narnia and Harry as Christ figures. That's an angle that could use a thesis or two.
Received on Mon 06 Aug 2007 12:24:49 PM CDT
