Harry Potter sage and Philosophy Professor at Liberty University, David Baggett, has edited a new book, Tennis and Philosophy. I don’t play tennis and don’t care to watch it, either, because, as with hockey and cricket, I have no idea of what it’s like to play the game or what constitutes greatness. But I probably will eventually pick up a copy of Tennis and Philosophy just to read what Prof. Baggett says about the metaphysical aspects of the game. If you’re a tennis player or fan, I hope you’ll buy a copy and post a review here about tennis as competitive alchemy, a “resolution of contraries” in action over a mean…
Bronte Sisters Power Dolls with Kung Fu Grip!
May 21, 2010 by 3 Comments
If there had been a Potter Mania before the Georgian Era, what might the Austen Age have been like? Here is one possibility:
Frankly, this 1998 spoof says a lot about Twilight and Harry Potter fandoms, from the requisite political correctness to the ubiquitous riding of the commercialization wave via movies and “fan events” organized by non-fans. It says a lot, but I will let someone else unpack it.
Twilight Panel in NYC Tonight!
April 30, 2010 by 13 Comments
Two Quick Announcements!
First, I will be speaking tonight on a panel of Twilight experts at Pace University about our favorite novels set in Forks, Washington. Panelists will include Dr. Nancy Reagin, a Pace Professor and the editor of Twilight and History, and Dr. Birgit Wiedl, a Professor at the University of Innsbruck who contributed the Volturi chapter in History. Another Pace Professor — and unofficial member of the Hogs Head Blogemgamut — Dr. Gwen Limbach will be moderating the discussion (and contributing to it, I hope!) so it promises to be a fun night with challenging conversation about the intersection of literature, history, and culture, not to mention gender studies. It starts at 7 pm at One Pace Plaza and I hope if you’re a New Yorker (or even if you’re not) that you can come!
Second, after my pleading by email for weeks, Elizabeth Baird Hardy, author of Milton, Spenser and the Chronicles of Narnia: Literary Sources for the C.S. Lewis Novels, English professor and expert on Harry Potter, Twilight, Hunger Games, in addition to all things C. S. Lewis, has agreed to join the Hogwarts Professor internet faculty. Her posts will be headed “EBH” in the subject line so we know who is posting what, and, because Prof. Hardy understands blogging software, you can even see pictures in her posts like the one just below. Please join me, All-Pros, in welcoming Prof. Hardy!
Thank you, Elizabeth, for joining the faculty of two here at Hogwarts Professor and for doubling the fun we will have!
Entertainment Weekly’s Most Anticipated Books
April 19, 2010 by 4 Comments
Two books coming out this summer that we’ll be discussing here — Stephenie Meyer’s The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner and Suzanne Collins’ Mockingjay, the conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy — make EW’s ’18 Books We Can’t Wait to Read this Summer’ list. Forgive me for laughing about two things: [Read more…]
Mailbag: New ‘Twilight’ Novella? Pullman Piece?
March 30, 2010 by 17 Comments
Here are some notes from my HogPro inbox about the new Stephenie Meyer and Philip Pullman books and about why each author writes books like these:
On the new Meyer novella, The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner, you can read the Press Release here and the Publisher’s Weekly piece here (H/T to Ann-Laurel and Pallas Athena). The short version is that Mrs. Meyer was writing a lot of notes for the Eclipse movie makers and had planned a short piece for her Twilight Guide expanding on Bree Tanner’s life as a New Born, sleepless in Seattle; the story became too big as an add-on for the guide and, no doubt, Little Brown was happy to get another Twilight title out there. Perhaps to short circuit the accusation that this is a money-grab, though, Mrs. Meyer is offering the book online for free as a “thank you” to her fans.
Two quick notes: [Read more…]
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