The Hog's Head » Harry Potter Culture http://thehogshead.org Harry Potter News and Commentary Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:44:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Analysis, news, commentary, interviews on all things Harry Potter and fantasy fiction. Travis Prinzi no Travis Prinzi tprinzi@gmail.com tprinzi@gmail.com (Travis Prinzi) 2006-2009 Smart Talk on Harry Potter Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, C.S. Lewis, Tolkien, Inklings, Mythology, Fairy Tales, Literature The Hog's Head » Harry Potter Culture http://thehogshead.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/Hogs-Head-PubCast.003.jpg http://thehogshead.org/categories/harry-potter-culture/ The Next Harry Potter? http://thehogshead.org/the-next-harry-potter-4591/ http://thehogshead.org/the-next-harry-potter-4591/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:26:14 +0000 revgeorge http://thehogshead.org/?p=4591

I saw a comment over at Hogwarts Professor which reminded me of another article I had seen on the proclivities of people to compare the next big thing with Harry Potter.  The quote at HogPro was in regard to the Percy Jackson series.  The quote  of which it reminded me was from a young girl’s letter to the New York Times thanking them for not comparing any of the children’s fantasies on their children’s book issue of November 8, 2009 to Harry Potter.  I provide links to both quotes here for your perusal and thoughts.  I personally think they make a lot of sense and a very nice corrective to a lot of the hype that gets thrown around in the publishing world.

The first one is from The Torch Online, quoting the girl’s letter to the Times.  The original post may be found here.

The second is from the commenter over at HogPro named Lynn, specifically the third paragraph of her comment.

Enjoy!

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/the-next-harry-potter-4591/feed/ 16 Chicken … er, Pumpkin Soup for the Wizarding Soul http://thehogshead.org/4304-4304/ http://thehogshead.org/4304-4304/#comments Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:43:38 +0000 Jenna St. Hilaire http://thehogshead.org/?p=4304

This is stuff to warm the heart of every Harry Potter fan: story after vignette after anecdote of fans’ experience connecting with other fans, often strangers (can we say shared text, Professor Granger?)

It might be worth clicking the Best Of buttons to find some of the greatest. Here’s a favorite of mine:

“Today, I was walking home from school. I then saw three kids dressed as Harry, Hermione, and Ron running down the street being chased my a man who looked about 50 dressed up as Snape, who was screaming “GET BACK HERE, POTTER!”. I’m not sure what just happened, but I want in.”

Also, I actually cried laughing when I read this one. Technically, it’s a joke and not a story, but who’s complaining?

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/4304-4304/feed/ 23 A Few Images from the Harry Potter Themepark http://thehogshead.org/a-few-images-from-the-harry-potter-themepark-4260/ http://thehogshead.org/a-few-images-from-the-harry-potter-themepark-4260/#comments Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:53:25 +0000 Dave the Longwinded http://thehogshead.org/?p=4260

A few days ago, someone from the Orlando Sentinel provided some photos they took at the Universal Themepark showing the construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. If you picked up the Blu Ray of Half-Blood Prince, then you saw the special in the extras section that was mostly a CGI tour of the park’s layout, along with the actors talking about what they had seen so far.

These photos don’t show too much, but they hint at just how much the park is influenced by the look of the movies (no big surprise). I’m eagerly awaiting some more detail on just what is in store in terms of rides and attractions. If I get to take on a dragon, or see a giant sphinx, I’ll be happy ;) .

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/a-few-images-from-the-harry-potter-themepark-4260/feed/ 1 Friday Forum Reminder http://thehogshead.org/friday-forum-reminder-4223/ http://thehogshead.org/friday-forum-reminder-4223/#comments Fri, 08 Jan 2010 07:19:38 +0000 revgeorge http://thehogshead.org/?p=4223

Just a reminder that The Hogshead now has a forum.  It may be found here.  There are currently 36 registered members & 58 topics.  Remember that at the forum you get to control the topic discussion, whether it’s on Harry Potter or other topics.  Please feel free to register & start participating.

There’s currently topics on favorite Science Fiction and Fantasy books, Movies that Age Well, Sherlock Holmes movie, Climate Change, Canon, 2009 Books Read, Twilight, Harry Potter books & movies (obviously), Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies, Classic Books, and many more!!

Check it out!!

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/friday-forum-reminder-4223/feed/ 5 Harry Potter and the Decade That Was http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-and-the-decade-that-was-4191/ http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-and-the-decade-that-was-4191/#comments Fri, 01 Jan 2010 02:25:31 +0000 revgeorge http://thehogshead.org/?p=4191

According to some calculations, when the clock ticks over midnight tonight, a new decade will begin and the old one close.  Not for me, though, I don’t think the new decade starts until 2011.  :)

But since most of the world figures 2010 will start the new decade, I’ve noticed a fair number of stories posted over at The Leaky Cauldron on Harry Potter and its place in the last decade.  That is to say, Harry Potter is making a lot of end of decade lists.  I was going to post the links to some of those stories but Leaky is apparently down for maintainence right now.  Oh well.  Anyway, if you go over there once they’re back up, you’ll see over the last week or so many of these stories.

My question to you all this New Year’s Eve is, what do you think Harry Potter’s role and place was in the last decade?  What do you think it will be in the decade to come?  How do you measure the impact of both Harry Potter and of Joanne Rowling at this time in history?

So, have yourself some hors d’ouevres, raise a toast of champagne, and sing a round of Auld Lang Syne, and have a Happy New Year!!

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-and-the-decade-that-was-4191/feed/ 20 Harry Potter’s World Exhibition http://thehogshead.org/harry-potters-world-exhibition-3529/ http://thehogshead.org/harry-potters-world-exhibition-3529/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:43:30 +0000 Travis Prinzi http://thehogshead.org/?p=3529

Harry Potter's World ExhibitionThere’s a new Harry Potter Exhibition beginning to tour: Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine should be an interesting exhibit. Originally on display only at the National Library of Medicine, it was offered in conjunction with the ALA on a very limited basis for libraries and institutions that entered a competition for the rights to host it.

The original winners are here, but apparently the demand for the exhibit was so great, they’ve created a few copies of it, and there are now plans for the exhibit to run at multiple locations straight into 2012. That schedule is here. (Note that this “full schedule” is missing the dates of the original winners of said competition, so check those dates here.) You can find Harry Potter’s World on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m finalizing details to speak at the exhibition when it’s at the Galesburg Public Library (Illinois) in June 2010.

Here’s a description of the event from the website:

IN 1997, BRITISH AUTHOR J. K. ROWLING INTRODUCED THE WORLD TO HARRY POTTER AND A LITERARY PHENOMENON WAS BORN. Millions of readers have followed Harry to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he discovers his heritage, encounters new plants and animals, and perfects his magical abilities. Although a fantasy story, the magic in the Harry Potter books is partially based on Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy. Incorporating the work of several 15th- and 16th-century thinkers, the seven-part series examines important ethical topics such as the desire for knowledge, the effects of prejudice, and the responsibility that comes with power. This exhibition, using materials from the National Library of Medicine, explores Harry Potter’s world and its roots in Renaissance magic, science, and medicine.

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/harry-potters-world-exhibition-3529/feed/ 6 Harry Potter Theme Park Promises Thrills http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-theme-park-promises-thrills-3434/ http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-theme-park-promises-thrills-3434/#comments Tue, 13 Oct 2009 22:58:06 +0000 Dave the Longwinded http://thehogshead.org/?p=3434

by Arabella Figg

This article (9-21-09) (click here) details the prominent attractions and rides “to make the experience immersive.”

“Along those journeys they’re going to be swept up into the greatest parts of the movies and the books,” says Paul Daurio, producer of the Potter area. “We’ve pushed every technology available to us to give tuests a theme park experience unlike any they’ve had before.”

I found interesting this quote, in the light of Harry Potter being Shared Text:

“It’s such a huge worldwide brand, and the only place in the world you’re going to be able to experience it is in Orlando.”

Do you think the HP theme park can enhance your experience of HP… or not?

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/harry-potter-theme-park-promises-thrills-3434/feed/ 19 Lego my Harry Potter! http://thehogshead.org/lego-my-harry-potter-2125/ http://thehogshead.org/lego-my-harry-potter-2125/#comments Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:35:51 +0000 Dave the Longwinded http://thehogshead.org/?p=2125

I’m a huge video game fan, and this week is full of big news for me.  The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3, if you want to sound cool) is happening in LA, and this when we ludo-philes get some previews of interesting new hardware and upcoming games from all the big companies.

There is a tiny bit of Harry Potter news from E3, too.  Below is a trailer for Lego Harry Potter.

Three other major story properties have gotten the Lego treatment in a videogame setting:  Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Batman.  And all of them have been super fun for the whole family!  If you have kids into videogames, or if you’re a big kid like me, this will certainly provide for some goofy fun!

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/lego-my-harry-potter-2125/feed/ 9 Twilight DVD sells over 3 million copies http://thehogshead.org/twilight-dvd-sells-over-3-million-copies-1851/ http://thehogshead.org/twilight-dvd-sells-over-3-million-copies-1851/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:02:29 +0000 Behold a Phoenix http://thehogshead.org/?p=1851

twilightdvd

From Amanda Bell’s article at Examiner.com:

Summit Home Entertainment, the company responsible for the Twilight film, has just announced that Saturday’s sales were, indeed, chart-topping. Over three million copies of the Twilight DVD were sold, and this propelled the DVD to the “Top Five Best First Day Releases in Two Years.”

Welcomed in with Twilight DVD release parties across the nation, along with special surprise guest appearances at several of them by cast members of Twilight and New Moon, the DVD’s success comes as no surprise to many fans. [...]

“We are incredibly appreciative that Twilight fans came out to once again support this film at our midnight events across the nation,” said Steve Nickerson, Summit’s President of Home Entertainment. “With such a successful first day sales, it is apparent that our fans remain passionate about the Twilight saga and want to own a piece of the Edward and Bella story they have come to love. We look forward to the continued success for both the home entertainment and retail sales of this property as a whole.”

The promise of success for the Twilight series was doubtless to the many Twilight fans around the nation and globe, and these record-breaking sales only go to prove that the Twilight series is, indeed, fan-driven.

One of the other four movies was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

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]]> http://thehogshead.org/twilight-dvd-sells-over-3-million-copies-1851/feed/ 5 We Are Wizards Documentary http://thehogshead.org/we-are-wizards-documentary-1251/ http://thehogshead.org/we-are-wizards-documentary-1251/#comments Sun, 16 Nov 2008 02:45:30 +0000 Behold a Phoenix http://thehogshead.org/?p=1251

We Are Wizards is a glimpse into the world of fans inspired by Harry Potter and who have taken their love for the series a step further by creating songs, forming bands, establishing fan sites, and organizing campaigns in the name of fandom. Josh Koury’s documentary mainly pays homage to the small musical genre known as “wizard rock”with music and interviews from Harry and the Potters (Joe and Paul DeGeorge), Draco and the Malfoys (Brian Ross and Bradley Mehlenbacher), The Whomping Willows, The Hungarian Horntails (consisting of two boys, aged 4 and 7), and other bands. From Brian Ross of Draco and the Malfoys saying that his half-brother Bradley Mehlenbacher has matured as an artist due to wizard rock to seeing the parents (who are also wizard rockers) of The Hungarian Horntails dubb themselves the wizard rock version of the Partridge Family; Koury’s film does a good job showing the “wizard rock” scene and the lives of these rockers whose lives were changed by Harry Potter.

Also featured are Melissa Anelli of The Leaky Cauldron and Heather Lawver of The Daily Prophet. Lawver’s story is particularly interesting because she took on Warner Bros. by helping organize the infamous PotterWar boycott in 2001 when she was 16. PotterWar was in response to Warner Bros. sending out cease-and-desist letters to fan sites of Harry Potter. Lawver fought as a fan for the fans who wanted to start fan clubs online while corporations like Warner Bros. did not understand how to deal with this new trend of internet fandom. Professor Henry Jenkins of Massachusetts Institute of Technology offered some perpective on this, but stealing the show however is Brad Neely, a comic book artist living in Austin, Texas. Neely’s claim to fame in Harry Potter fandom was Wizard People, Dear Reader, an unauthorized spoof of Harry Potter. Watching him draw Harry, Ron, and Hermione and reminiscing about his fears of getting sued by Warner Bros. was just hilarious. He was brilliant. Interestingly enough Caryl Matrisciana, of Harry Potter: Witchcraft Repackaged fame, was interviewed for this film, giving her thoughts of Harry Potter being evil and seducing young readers to the Occult with brief responses by Melissa Anelli saying that the series is very moralistic and has Christian themes of self sacrifice and love.

We Are Wizards is very effective documentary in showing the lives of those who love Harry Potter, but suprisingly does not ask the big question of why these personalities (along with millions others) love Harry Potter. I also wonder why they showed Caryl Matrisciana representing the anti-Harry Potter position, which seems out of place in a documentary film about fans. But this film is really about the fans and how they allowed the series to fuel their own creativity in engaging J.K. Rowling’s work. Heather Lawver’s reflections on PotterWars and dealing with Dercums Disease are especially poignant, as well as being shown the everyday lives of those in wizard rock bands serves as a credit to this film. There is only so much you can show in 79 minutes, but I recommend anyone seeing this documentary for a great deal of humor (watch for the Cookie Monster comment by Joe DeGeorge), music, and a glimpse into a part of Harry Potter subculture.

We Are Wizards is playing at the Cinema Village theatre on 22 East 12 Street in Manhattan until November 20, 2008. For tickets and showtimes, click here. The official website is: www.wearewizards-themovie.com.

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