On August 1. The Chronicle of Higher Education published a brief piece about how effectively Rowling satirizes the (American) educational system, particularly in the person of Umbridge, the administrator we all fear and loathe, particularly if we work in an academic setting. Though Rob Jenkins’s article is about nine years late to the party, it does have some merit. In addition, many of the comments posted by readers are even more chortle-producing for their “I just woke up from a decade-long coma” tone (I am really amused by the attorney who wants to be the literature police. What is he even doing reading the Chronicle? Hopefully, he’s not planning to sue a teacher for giving a student the grade the student earned, but that’s another post). So check out the article, and then follow me after the jump for a few thoughts on yes, indeed, why Umbridge is, to some of us, much scarier than Voldy himself. [Read more…]
Chronicle of Higher Education Finally Notices Harry Potter
Shared Text: Voldemort vs Mary Poppins at Olympics Opening?
So it’s only a rumor! The thought the Olympics opening would feature Lord Voldemort terrorizing Alice in Wonderland and being vanquished by an army of Mary Poppins (all of whom fly into the stadium via Umbrellas) is a perfect ‘Shared Text’ moment, no? I suspect everyone present will ‘get’ the Dark Lord reference and that quite a few will not recognize the Lewis Carroll and P. L. Travers heroines. Here’s hoping that many of those few will walk through the portal Harry Potter provides to English literature, especially the best in high fantasy. The Gateway drug to a life of engaging, edifying reading, etc.
And if the rumor isn’t true? Well, it ought to be. Hat tip, A2Paper.
I have fourteen posts in queue to put up over the next week or so — my experiences with friends at Ascendio 2012 in Orlando right at the top of the list and thoughts in anticipation of LeakyCon3 in Chicago early next month right behind them. I have started a new job and a new writing project, though, since returning from the Wizarding World so blogging may continue to be spotty. Thank you for standing by — did I tell you about my conversation with Veronica Roth? You’ll never believe it…
Shared Text No More? Why No Mention of Fawkes Here?
CNN: Survival of injured baby golden eagle in Utah wildfire called ‘amazing’
The problem with the ‘Shared Text’ thesis is that it seems non-falsifiable. That issue can be put in the form of a question: “Can we claim media references to the Hogwarts Saga demonstrate the pervasiveness of this story in the popular imagination if there is no possible counter balancing demonstration for the negative?”
Perhaps this CNN story of a golden eaglet rescued from the western states wild fires — named “Phoenix” for what I’m guessing aren’t geographical reasons — is a case for the negative. How weird is it that there is no mention of the Order of the Phoenix to describe this eaglet’s over-the-top ‘anything for the bird’ handlers? And Fawkes?
Your comments and corrections, please!
Literary Alchemy as Wedding Scaffolding: Seeing is Believing
Lancelot Schaubert, longtime friend of this weblog and contributor to Travis Prinzi’s Harry Potter for Nerds essay collection, was married recently. He and his bride decided to give their nuptial celebrations a literary touch, something ‘fantastic’ and ‘mythic’ without chain-mail and dwarves carrying battle axes.
They decided on a Literary Alchemy theme. Story and pictures here!
If alchemy has gone mainstream enough that we’re seeing weddings planned with it as the organizing principle, I think we can conclude that Harry Potter is indeed the Shared Text of Generation Hex.
Congratulations, Lancelot and Kiddo! May the Lord smile on your marriage and lives together in Him!
Shared Text: WR Randy Moss Joins the San Francisco 49ers
It shouldn’t be a surprise that a disproportionate number of Harry Potter references in popular media come in the opinion columns on the editorial page and in articles by sportswriters. Unlike the beat reporters who are obliged to keep the narrative line pretty much to the facts to sustain the illusion of neutrality, columnists and sports reporters have every incentive to be colorful and brash. Literary references welcome.
Earlier this week it was Joe Posnanski and the Dementors he felt haunted Cleveland Municipal Stadium in his youth. Now it’s the advent of troublesome Randy Moss in the re-building project of San Francisco’s football team. Sports Illustrated columnist Ann Killion clearly thinks the Bay area enthusiasm about Mr. Moss’ arrival and good behavior is premature and maybe even akin to fantasy, hence her use of Hogwarts references to express her skepticism in ‘Randy Moss Off to Great Start With 49ers.’ She starts out with this note:
SANTA CLARA — Randy Moss arrived in the Bay Area in 2005 with sirens blaring and a police escort.
Seven years later he’s come back with an invisibility cloak.
San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh has made him sound like a cross between Hermione Granger and Vince Lombardi.
“In the classroom he sits in the front row, he soaks up the knowledge and always gives the feedback, too,” Harbaugh said recently. “His attendance has been impeccable … he’s like a coach.”
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