Thoughts for the Serious Reader of Harry Potter
At The Hog’s Head, dust is sort of the norm. That’s just how Aberforth rolls. But over here at Hogwarts Professor, you’re going to see some temporary “dust” for a bit, while my Hog’s Head tech-elf crew (which consists mostly of me and two elves who I think quit so won’t be around) remake the site.
You’re seeing, right now, the very first phase, which is to get the bare bones structure up. You’ll see changes over the coming week or so. Suggestions welcome!
So, what's this lady in a boat got to do with anything?
When was the last time you read a book for fun? For education? For spiritual enlightenment?
When was the last time it was all the same book?
If you’ve been studying here under the Hogwarts Professor, I’m guessing that might be pretty recently. But I think for many readers—including myself, in fact—the association between basking in a good story, didactic reception of knowledge, and the spiritual apotheosis of great art isn’t immediate or easy. It’s an old trope but it’s a true trope: we of the West have learned how to compartmentalise.*
The problem with implicit assumptions about the world, of course, is that they’re implicit. It takes a lot of self-scrutiny and a willingness to succumb to an outside critique from art and truth to expose them.
So what do you do when you’re too busy to read those sorts of books, watch those sorts of films, visit those sorts of galleries? What do you do when you’ve been trained to operate within rigid compartments and methods of scrutiny that ignore the silent power of Story? What do you do when you’re supposed to be the one with all the answers?
Mike Duran of deCOMPOSE, author of The Resurrection (Realms/Strang, 2011), asks similar questions in a recent blog post: ‘5 Reasons Why Your Pastor Should Read Fiction.’ [Read more…]
This cartoon from this week’s Monterey Herald serves as a reminder that there are still folks who need reminding of our shared text’s literary value!
On that note, the deadline for academic programming proposals for Leaky Con 2011 is now March 10. I’m really looking forward to some amazing academic presentations, as well as the opportunity to confer with my brother wizards in the steamy Florida sunshine! If you’ve not gotten your proposal in yet, and your Time Turner is broken, get cracking! Even if you don’t want to present, but you have some ideas for academic programming that you’d like to see, email the fine folks planning the academic schedule.
As I was recently browsing the local classifieds, I nearly dropped the paper when I came across these two entries back to back. I have been sorely tempted to call the number of the second ad and ask for Dolores! I’m fairly certain the folks at the local paper probably didn’t put these two together on purpose, but it’s fun to think so.
We are on the cusp of breaching 150 inches of snow fall since Thanksgiving here in Central New York State, what one Canadian meteorologist has called this year’s ‘Snow Capitol of North America.’ I am especially delighted, consequently, to be traveling this week to Louisville, Kentucky, for a talk at the University of Louisville McConnell Center (details here) and the Climacus Conference (details here). I fly farther south from there to Alabama for speaking dates at the Athens and Madison public libraries (details here and here) and at a parochial school. I’ll come home via New Jersey for a return trip to the Blair School’s Society of Skeptics, for an advanced session of Q&A with their witches and wizards.
The friend who scheduled all of these Alabama dates is a woman I met at Leaky Con 2009 in Boston — which reminds me; if you’re coming to Leaky Con 2011 in Orlando this July and you want to give a talk, your proposals have to be in by 28 February. Two weeks until the Programming closes — don’t be late! I’m looking forward to seeing you and hearing your talk in Florida!
I hope to see all HogPro All-Pros living in Louisville’s metropolitan area and friends in Alabama! I’ll be the guy in bermuda shorts and shades enjoying the tropical weather (or just the man smiling unnaturally because he doesn’t have to plow the driveway). 41 days with snowfall in the last 43… Whew– it’s Noah on ice up here!
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