Hogwarts Professor

A&E “Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” on YouTube
ByJohn July 10, 2007
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If you don’t want to stay up until three in the morning to watch all the neat film clips from the sets of Order of the Phoenix, the A&E teevee special “The Hidden Secrets of Harry Potter” is now posted on YouTube. Steve Vander Ark of the Lexicon, Janet Batchler of What Will Harry Do?, and your friend, the Hogwarts Professor, make their appearances in between chats with Daniel Radcliffe and gang.

Thanks to Accio Quote Lisa, once again, for this link.

Did anyone tivo or post the interviews I did with Alex Witt on MSNBC 8 July? That was fun, too.
The Traditional Meaning of the Veil
ByJohn July 10, 2007
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In my essay on Harry Passing through the Veil, I neglected to make a link with an important website called “The Veil: Contemplating Christian Mysteries.” For understanding why Harry’s passage through the Veil has important Christian reference points and profound meaning, this site is a must visit.

Here is a small selection of what can be found there, on an introductory page entitled, “Why the Veil?”

The veil, or more specifically its rending, as recorded in all three Synoptic Gospels (note 1) marks a moment in human history, and a turning point in the destiny of mankind. In his essay on Christian initiation, Marco Pallis noted its rending “marks the end of Christ’s human ministry … since all that follows … is of a miraculous order” (note 2). As such, it is most certainly a sign, in that it points to an event, even if its occurrence is instantaneous with that which it signifies. It signals the importance of the event, of that moment, in human history, in light of the purpose which the veil serves (note 3), because mention is made of it specifically, and nothing other. Read More “The Traditional Meaning of the Veil”
Potter-porri: Potter Reading to Close the Interlibrum
ByJohn July 10, 2007
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While I am scrambling to put together my talk for Enlightening 2007 this weekend and write the Tale of Two Cities post that has been haunting me since March (the answer to what happens to Harry in Deathly Hallows?), I keep stumbling upon and reading works of brilliance from friends and friends-I-have-yet-to-meet in the blog-o-live-journal-sphere. I assume that everyone here has quit their job or taking a leave of absence from their senses until 21 July (August?), so here is enough challenging reading to last you until P-Day.

Let’s start out with my heavy hitting co-horts from Who Killed Albus Dumbledore? Read More “Potter-porri: Potter Reading to Close the Interlibrum”
St. Severus’ Feast Day: June 27/July 10
ByJohn July 10, 2007
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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 “St. Severus’ Feast Day: June 27/July 10”
The New York Times covers Harry Potter?
ByJohn July 9, 2007
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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!