A student at Temple University is working on a Youth Cultures paper, and would like to interview Potter readers, but is unable to attend the next Potterdelphians meetup; therefore, she asked that people interested in being interviewed email her directly. If you would like to contact her, please email Andrea, Potterdelphia Ravenclaw Prefect, who will pass along her contact information.
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EBH: Philly-area Potter Fans Needed for Research
April 13, 2010 by 4 Comments
EBH: An Update about my Correspondence with Focus on the Family concerning ‘Twilight’s Merits
April 12, 2010 by 8 Comments
As you may recall, a few weeks ago, John posted my concerned letter to Focus on the Family after their two-part program that essentially threw up caution tape around the Twilight Saga. After a week or so, I received a response. Below please find the letter Focus wrote to me, my reply, and the most recent response from Focus to my second letter. I’m not planning to reply further, as they clearly are getting more mail on the subject, and I feel a little sorry for Michael Krider, as he may just be the poor guy who drew the short straw and was assigned to respond to the Twilight backlash. I am intrigued by the line in the last letter that indicates Focus is, as John supposed, taking heat for not being anti-Twilight enough for some folks. There are also, it seems, plenty of others who, like myself, feel that High School Musical is far more “dangerous” than Twilight. Maybe I’m just over-sensitive, but it seems that the FOF folks are more afraid of the crowd that wants them to start burning any book with fictional elements than they are of me. Oh well, now back to our regularly scheduled thoughtful discussion; for me, that means back to the Hunger Games post I’m working up for later this week and some more thoughts on reading , writing, and thinking.
EBH: ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ as Seen from a Traditional Catholic’s Perspective
April 11, 2010 by 13 Comments
Welcome, welcome to another guest this week. Sayf Bowlin is a Catholic seminarian and fan of the science fiction / fantasy genre who enjoys the interplay between faith, reason and pop culture. He has graciously sent along his insights on the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series for our conversation. Thanks for helping me with this subbing gig, Sayf!–Elizabeth
Percy Jackson and the Olympians:
My Two Drachmas: Some thoughts on the Series from a Catholic Perspective
by Sayf Bowlin, KCHS
When I was in middle school, I read ravenously, so much so that my bus driver used to call me “the Professor.” One of the subjects which I liked to read was Greek mythology. In my reading, I remember coming across a book in the school library which had an interesting conclusion. It said that at some point in the history of Greece, the Christians came with their crucifixes and drove the Greek gods away – but they were waiting until the day they could return. At the time, I thought this was very clever and liked the fact that it took Christianity seriously (so I thought), acknowledging that true worship of God banishes all idolatry (or so I thought). Another book I saw recently in a book store concluded with the proclamation that the gods “are still with us.” It would appear that this is the case, at least per Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.
EBH: The Hogwarts Professor Will Be At Pace University Friday April 30—Mark your Calendars!
April 10, 2010 by Leave a Comment
If you don’t happen to live in the Midwest and can’t get to any of the fantastic programs John will be presenting over the next several days, don’t worry: he’s coming back east. On April 30, he will be at Pace University to sign copies of Spotlight as part of their Twilight-themed afternoon and evening. Nancy Reagin, editor of Twilight and History, will also be featured and will sign books. Knowing John and Nancy, it will be an absolutely super evening and well worth a visit to the big apple (very appropriate for a Twilight talk)!
Here is the official invite: [Read more…]
Writing for ‘Twilight and History’ from the Guest Professor, Elizabeth Baird Hardy (EBH)
April 9, 2010 by 6 Comments
History is full of unexpected turns of events, moments that spin an otherwise directed course onto a completely different path. Such moments also litter our personal histories. In the spring of 2009, suffering from a cold and just happy to curl up in a chair with my likewise afflicted daughter, I finally gave in to pressure from my students and began reading Twilight. I generally try to stay abreast of what interests my students, which is sometimes a challenge with the wide variety of ages and backgrounds in a community college classroom. On the first day of class, I have them fill out an interest sheet, telling me what movies and books they like. Of course, I often see books that I know were eighth grade reading assignments, giving every indication that the student hasn’t read anything with chapters since then. Sometimes they try to impress me by including War and Peace or the Bible (although I remind them that putting the Bible in the same category with Nicholas Sparks is close to blasphemy, and suggesting that it’s one’s favorite recreational reading is like saying one’s hobby is breathing). Time and again, I saw the Twilight Saga on these sheets, often the sheets of students whom I regarded as thoughtful and sophisticated readers and writers. So, I borrowed the well-worn paperback from the library, snuggled up with my fellow sickie and a big box of tissues, and was, completely against my will and my expectations, enchanted.
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