The Harry Potter fan world is a little nutty, no? The Wall Street Journal reports that a first edition Bloomsbury Philosopher’s Stone just sold for >$15,000 at auction (the previous record was >$11,000). Believe it or not, you could buy a nice house (well, a 30′ diameter yurt) for less than that. Indicative of the same kind of Harry madness, an American college student has sunk his life savings (almost $15,000 — is that the going rate?) into a desperate attempt to get a part in the Deathly Hallows films.
For film buffs, the release dates for both Deathly Hallows films have been announced: November 10, 2010 and July 15, 2011, respectively. I’m pretty sure they’ll keep to that schedule, unless Warner Brothers has a mega hit in the summer of 2010 a la Dark Knight, causing them to bump DH Part 1 to 2011 and DH 2 to 2012 to be sure of a hit in the future (and not to stack one year’s profits up too high with two blockbusters…).
[Of course, if Ms. Rowling agrees to write a prequel or Hogwarts side feature (the real story of Hagrid’s term as Ambassador to the giants?), look for the movies to go ahead right on schedule. I’m guessing all it would only take Warner Brothers, who are making close to $1 billion on each Potter flick, to get that script would be an offer of several hundred million dollars to cure MS or free the Cage Children. Yes, I think the woman can be bought, if the appeal is made to her “saving people thing.”]
What do the American student waving a sign at a film studio gate and the high bid for a “first edition” Harry Potter paperback have in common? I think they both are markers of our shared engagement with Ms. Rowling’s story and our identification with the values and hopes of the hero. The geek loser at the gates has either achieved his five minutes of fame or created the story of a teevee afternoon movie special. The book collector/investor, assuming that geeks like this will grow up someday into Bill Gates-like wealth and want copies of their generation’s Rosebud sled in book form (Spielberg’s purchase of the sled for $60,000 making this thought only more credible).
I was advised by a Prep School friend on a call to get a pledge for our 30th Reunion to “diversify” my book “portfolio” because Harry Potter is on the wane. I will be writing on other subjects soon but not from fear that Harry Potter is no longer important or interesting. If anything, the post-canon era promises to become more exciting in terms of the ideas being discussed as the movies and theme park crazes end and the surface readers move on.
Your thoughts?
John wrote, “…the post-canon era promises to become more exciting in terms of the ideas being discussed as the movies and theme park crazes end and the surface readers move on.”
I think this encapsulates the heart of the matter. If, as many of us have contended, HP is great literature, then it will be around for awhile. Just not necessarily in the same frenzied fandom state. But it will still be interesting & important & full of depth for the more dedicated reader.
I don’t think the book collector is nutty. Books are art, and art has always been legitmately collectible. Value is in the eye of the beholder, and increases (or decreases) with age, rarity and demand. (The $15k was for a paperback, as I recall–true, an awful lot. The really valuable books will be first/firsts in hardcover.) And the people who own these things can afford to take proper care of them or donate them to museums where all can enjoy them.
(And who wouldn’t like to have bought a famous author’s early hardcover work–heck, Stehpen King could fund your kids’ college education.)
Now, the young DH fan sinking his life savings into a slim hope of being in a crowd shot in the film–that’s kind of pathetic, and reeks of immaturity.
Are you not being uncharitable in saying “Yes, I think the woman can be bought, if the appeal is made to her “saving people thing.”? If Rowling was that way, she’d be churning out junk left and right, and she’s not doing that. I think she’s been sparing and very thoughtful (quality-wise) in what she’s produced and how she’s used the proceeds for good. Given her undisputable power, one could say she has all three Deathly Hallows and is using them wisely, responsibly and compassionately. What’s wrong with that?
I ditto RevGeorge’s last paragraph.