Shared Text: Letter from a School Teacher

August 7, 2009 by 14 Comments

In my two featured talks at Azkatraz 2009 I gave out copies of my ‘spider-gram’ lecture notes and, when I ran out (the crowds were much larger than I anticipated), I took email addresses so I could send out the notes to those who wanted them. I sent some Azkatraz photos along with them and a link to the UChicago alumni Magazine article about Harry and the Great Books with an excerpt from Bookshelf.

I received a few notes in response, the best of which has been this note from an Elementary School teacher, whose name and location I edit out. I think you’ll see I couldn’t have made this up: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Literary Alchemy, Unlocking Harry Potter

Twilight Lexicon Meets Leaky Cauldron

August 6, 2009 by 3 Comments

Laura (Pel) of The Twilight Lexicon, TwiHard Fandom’s most popular fan website, and Melissa of The Leaky Cauldron met and spoke last Saturday at the New York Public Library. If you’re interested in ‘Comparative Fandom Experience,” you can read the highlights of their conversation at Edward Cullen.net and read Pel’s take on the event here.

Filed Under: Hog Pro Notes

Literary Alchemy and Cinema: No Match?

August 5, 2009 by 27 Comments

A HogPro in California wrote me last week about his trip to see the Half-Blood Prince movie and the consequent discussion he had with his wife about whether alchemical story elements can translate from page to screen and survive in such a way to have the signature cathartic effect such things have on readers. He said “No way” but the wife disagrees. He submits the question here for discussion, even arbitration.

First, the letter about the movie: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter

Guest Post: A Quest/Test Horcrux/Hallows Theory

August 5, 2009 by 3 Comments

‘Arrabella Figg’ has written me with an idea of how to understand the Deathly Hallows in relation to Riddle’s Horcruxes. She writes: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter

Harry Potter Discourages Journalism Careers?

August 4, 2009 by 7 Comments

Mr. Prinzi has already posted about this at The Hog’s Head, but I want to take the discussion in a different direction, namely, the function of satire and why reporters have never attacked Ms. Rowling.

First, the story: Harry Potter Bad for Newspapers?

The Spring 2008 (?) copy of the American Communication Journal featured a piece called Harry Potter and Children’s Perceptions of the News Media by Amanda Sturgill, Department of Journalism at Baylor University, Jessica Winney, University of Houston Clear Lake, and Tina Libhart, also of Baylor.

The abstract of the article reads: [Read more…]

Filed Under: Unlocking Harry Potter