Shared Text No More? Why No Mention of Fawkes Here?

July 8, 2012 by 3 Comments

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!

Filed Under: Shared Text

Josh Richards: The Congealed Fire of Poetry

July 7, 2012 by 7 Comments

One of the many treats of my brief stay at St. Andrews in May was meeting Josh Richards, Assistant Professor of English at Palm Beach Atlantic University and a doctoral candidate at the University of St Andrews. We met quite a few brilliant and eccentric (usually Christocentric, curiously) characters in Scotland, most of whom I hope very much will be lifelong friends. I said to my wife Mary, though, that I suspect Josh Richards, with whom we shared a few memorable meals and scintillating conversations, will be the person we tell our grandchildren about.

I have asked him to write about poetry because it is the great lacuna or emptiness in my education and current reading. His time allowing, I hope very much Prof Richards will write a general introduction to the subject for Unlocking Press in addition to poems and critical essays already in the queue for publication. Without further ado, then, a brief piece about reading poetry that he calls:

A Diversified Diet

Today, I write to you to suggest that you broaden your reading diet to include poetry. Before you roll your eyes and click off to other worlds, let me clear up a few things, and I think my request will seem quite reasonable.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Posts

Malcolm Guite: C. S. Lewis and the Imagination

July 6, 2012 by 1 Comment

Prof James Cutsinger, C. S. Lewis and Coleridge scholar at the University of South Carolina, sent me this YouTube lecture featuring Malcolm Guite speaking about Lewis’ spiritual journey, the conflict of reason and imagination, and their resolution in Logos. I was already late for bed when I sat down to preview it but sat riveted for more than an hour. Enjoy!

It should not come as a great surprise that Rev Dr Guite thinks Coleridge’s ideas of Logos and imagination are important for understanding Lewis and his Inkling companions. Check out his website, though, for the discovery that this scholar is also poet, rock musician, and artist!

Filed Under: C. S. Lewis

Guest Post: Harry Potter and C. S. Lewis’ Four Loves

July 5, 2012 by 14 Comments

David Holland writes:

One of the books on my summer reading list this year was C.S. Lewis’ The Four Loves.  It is an excellent read, as Lewis always is, but as I read I started making connections with the Hogwarts saga.  I found that Harry follows a clear progression of each of Lewis’ four loves, and that Rowling’s characterizations of Harry’s loves match Lewis’ descriptions very closely.  Considering that one of the overarching themes of the Potter series is the power of love over evil, I believe that Rowling would see all of four of these as powerful forces in the life of her protagonist.  Below is a brief description of how I see Rowling and Lewis overlap.  I would love to hear your thoughts!

[Read more…]

Filed Under: C. S. Lewis, Guest Posts

Guest Post:The Power of Words and Story on a Young Mind

July 1, 2012 by 6 Comments

Cathy Leogrande wrote:

John, I just wanted to let you know what a critical part of my son’s life you have been for the last few years. Here is a posting I wrote regarding my/our HPEF Legacy:

I have been an attendee & presenter at every HPEF event since The Witching Hour. Those days in Salem truly changed my life. I wanted to share a few details to show my appreciation for all that HPEF has done for my son & me.

I am an Associate Professor of Education at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. My son Joey is a Korean-American adoptee who is very bright, but struggled with literacy. He had a rocky road in school over the years. He had educators who saw his unique talents and others who stereotyped him. It was trying to help our son see past some of the problems and maintain his optimism. One of the only ways he survived and thrived was our annual trip to the HPEF conferences.

From the pajama party at Lumos, through the crazy evangelicals at Portus and memorial room at Prophecy, we have been with HPEF every step. He now attends Fordham University. Wherever he goes, he takes Harry, JKR, and the memories of HPEF conferences with him. His college essay (below) attests to the impact HPEF has had on him.

As for me, I developed & teach a graduate education course, EDG 731 (for Harry & JKR’s birthdays) entitled Harry Potter: MultidisciplinaryPerspectives. I have been fortunate to combine my personal and professional love of Rowling’s work into so many aspects of my life. This summer, I will be one of two U.S. professors presenting at Magic is Might, the first international academic Harry Potter conference in Limerick, Ireland.

I will never be able to repay the many HPEF volunteers & organizers for their gifts to Joey & me. What a journey it has been!

Best,

Cathy Leogrande, Associate Professor, Le Moyne College [Read more…]

Filed Under: Guest Posts