FYI: Amy H. Sturgis Interview–Read It! [JAB]

January 22, 2008 by 5 Comments

HogPro All-Pro Amy H. Sturgis, seen frequently in these pages under her blogline AHS, proves to be a delightful interviewee on Tim O’Shea’s blog. In the space of a relatively short and lively discussion, she carries us from 1813 and the world of Tecumseh to the uncharted future of C.S Lewis’ Science Fiction with a delightful interlude in the 1845 world of Emilie Flygare-Carlén and her The Magic Goblet, a book which Sturgis had to literally reconstruct from pieces. And yes, dear Rowling purists, there is a substantive central section dealing with subjects Hogwartish.

It is written compactly enough to satisfy those who want only the gist and want it right now, yet it is filled with a great variety of links to transport those who wish to dawdle more leisurely into a myriad of details about each of the various topics introduced.

I highly recommend it to all!…Aw shucks, stop reading my drivel and go read Amy’s fascinating interview!

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes, Unlocking Harry Potter

Goblet of Fire: Veritaserum & The Parting of the Ways (Chapters 35 & 36)[JAB]

January 22, 2008 by 1 Comment

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: Chapters 35-36

Mark True statements with a “T” and False statements with an “F.” Write your answers to the discussion points in the com boxes below.

1._____ Harry, the Triwizard Cup, and what’s left of Cedric arrive back at the Maze. The Headmaster asks Alastor Moody to take Harry to the hospital wing but “Mad-Eye” takes Harry to his office instead.

2._____ Harry answers Moody’s questions until he asks how the Dark Lord treated the returning Death Eaters. Harry remembers that he had learned there was a Death Eater at Hogwarts. Crouch/Moody claims he is the Hogwarts Death Eater. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Chapter Quiz

Harry & the Vatican–che non è di pani[JAB]

January 21, 2008 by 12 Comments

In early January of this year, Harry Potter e i doni della morte the Italian language version of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows went on sale in Italy.

In its January 14-15th issue, the newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, dedicated a full page to a Pro vs. Con debate on the merits of the Harry Potter series as a whole. I have not been able to locate an English translation of the articles, however for those of you fluent in Italian, reprints of the originals are available here.

And then the fireworks began.

HogPro yvaine was first to weigh in with this observation from Agence France-Presse. While this summary does note that two sides were presented in the debate, it spends most of its ink describing how “…the future Pope Benedict XVI…” condemned the series in 2003. (More on this subject later…)

Shortly thereafter, John Granger forwarded me a note from Norwegian HogPro, Odd Sverre Hove calling attention to this article from Australia (what a small world the internet has given us!) which presents considerably more of the pro side of the debate, but focuses its discussion of the con side around the statment:

“Under the headline “The Double Face of Harry Potter”, an expert in English literature, Edoardo Rialti, argues in L’Osservatore Romano that the Pope – then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger – was right to worry.”

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter

Guest Post: Fairytales—A Postmodern Twist [JAB]

January 20, 2008 by 13 Comments

And now! By special request of the Hogwarts Professor himself, a special presentation from HogPro’s own Cat Woman–Arabella Figg! But let us let her tell it in her own words:

Fairytales—A Postmodern Twist

By Deborah Chan (Muggle alias)/on this site All-Pro Arabella Figg

By now we’ve seen fairytales amusingly upended with postmodern twists in such films as the Shrek franchise and Hoodwinked. For the past few years, almost every treasured fairytale component and character has been fodder for brilliant parody.

And not just standard fairytales.

Santa Claus has also been postmodernized in films such as foul-mouthed Bad Santa and Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause franchise.

In December’s amusing TV Christmas special, Shrek the Halls, Shrek learns how to “do Christmas” according to a textbook. Despite the mayhem that ensues, he at last fulfills the final necessary instruction—to read to his children “the Christmas story,” which turns out to be . . . [Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter

A Primary Postmodern Posting on Presidential Politics [JAB]

January 19, 2008 by 4 Comments

Although supposedly buried in reams of notes and revisions of his forthcoming book, the Professor surfaced long enough to forward these musings upon a literary evaluation of the current political scene as inspired by an article called Sex, Race and Gen Y Voters by Rosa Brooks as published in the LA Times.

To read the article, click here.

After reflecting on the article, Professor John forwarded the following commentary speculating on how the current postmodern trend in American philosophy has extended itself even into our electoral process:

Just a simple post about the Democratic race shaping up about who is more politically correct, the cool black friend everyone wants (Jackie Robinson with no Duke Snyder…) or the steely eyed woman of purpose breaking through the ultimate glass ceiling, for the prize of winning the Presidency for the Political periphery and disenfranchised. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes