Thoughts for the Serious Reader of Harry Potter
The Machiavelli! Snape post here at Hogwarts Professor last month continues to travel around fandom sites and I have waited until today to post the “equal and opposite” Potions Master allegiance possibility. What could counterbalance the idea that Severus is a Machiavellian power player?
That he is named for a beloved Saint in the Orthodox Christian Church. I waited until today because June 27th (July 10th on the secular calendar) is the Feast Day of St. Severus. [Read more…]
Wow. A really great day for Harry Potter fans everywhere it is when the Newspaper of Record puts out some great guides and reading for serious readers!
In the Sunday New York Times this last week, we not only scored a Great Guide to the Potter Conventions and Events this summer but, incredibly, they printed four endings to the books by professional writers (not to worry, they’re all very funny in a sardonic way, no spoilers).
Read ’em all soon before you have to pay the Times to get them out of their archives!
If I have neglected one key here at HogPro that I discuss at length in Unlocking Harry Potter: Five Keys for the Serious Reader, it is Harry’s Hero Journey. In Unlocking I explain it in great detail (with other repeated story patterns and elements) in a chapter that is something of a break between the more challenging material in the literary alchemy and postmodern themes sections.
Events of last week, though, call for a closer look at Harry’s formulaic journeys here with special attention given the descent, literal or figurative, he makes in each book before his annual confrontation with the Black Hats. An article by Anne Johnstone in the Glasgow Herald reminded us (via Lisa and her ever industrious house-elves at Accio Quote!) that Ms. Rowling had told Ms. Johnstone in a 2000 interview that in Deathly Hallows we would see “how close we can get to the dead.” [Read more…]
Forbes Magazine announced its “Super Celebrity” list and, sure enough, Ms. Rowling is on it. She even made the top half of the list at #48 and, remember, this was in an “off year,” 2006, when she didn’t release a movie or publish a book. I think she has a very good shot at topping the poll next year, if she can make the $300 million it will take to displace Oprah Winfrey. 2007 promises to be very lucrative for our favorite blonde mother, author, and billionaire! Beat Oprah!
Even more fun is checking out where the Harry Potter writer finished compared to other authors. There are five on the list: Dan Brown, John Grisham, Rhonda Byrne, and Mitch Albom. Why Deepak Chopra wasn’t listed as an author, I don’t know, but he’s listed, too, at #82 (#2 on the “Self-Help/Pitchmen” list). [By the way, am I totally alone in not knowing who Ms. Byrne and Mr. Albom are?]
Even more mysterious, Rupert didn’t make the list but Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson did, at #79 and #97, respectively. Wassup with that? Maybe the Forbes folks are Harry/Hermione ‘shippers? How delusional is that? Look at how low they scaled other “kid stars.” Only Big Dan made the top 90. [Read more…]
Harry Potter: The Hidden Secrets®
Rated: TVPG Running Time: 60 Minutes
Upcoming Airings:
Sunday, July 08 @ 10pm/9C
Monday, July 09 @ 2am/1C
Thursday, July 12 @ 11pm/10C
Friday, July 13 @ 3am/2C
Saturday, July 14 @ 2pm/1C
Sunday, July 15 @ 3pm/2C
This one-hour special takes a thrilling look back at the first four Harry Potter books and movies, and looks ahead to Harry’s new film, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that’s based on the fifth book in author J.K. Rowling’s series. We’ll search for clues in the previous episodes that might tip us off to what’s coming up. We’ll look at Voldemort’s growing influence, the new Death-Eaters by his side, and the unsettling new turn by Cornelius Fudge and his minions. Includes interviews from the young stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, along with their veteran counterparts including Gary Oldman (Sirius Black), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort) and many of the other returning cast members. We’ll also some of the newest cast members, including Imelda Staunton as the formidable Dolores Umbridge, and Helena Bonham Carter as the evil Bellatrix LeStrange. All in all, this program’s a delectable treat for Harry’s legions of fans, young and old.
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