This will actually be the last Portus update, since I’m flying out too early tomorrow to make it to any of the closing events. I’ll be writing more on Portus, podcasting, and doing an essay or two at Suite101. For now, just a few quick updates.
Though I’m convinced of the Christian reading of “King’s Cross,” Edmund Kern did a nice job of laying out the case for the passage’s ambiguity. Dr. Kern takes a secular reading of the series, and sees King’s Cross as something that exists entirely in the imagination of Harry. We had a pleasant discussion later in the evening, which was unfortunately cut short by the fact that I was extremely exhausted and need to get back here, write this, and sleep before my flight tomorrow. I look forward to corresponding with him in the future.
I also had a very enjoyable talk with Dr. James Thomas, who, as I said, gave what I think was the best presentation of the weekend.
Yesterday, David Gras did a roundtable called “Harry Potter and the Bridge Between Two Worldviews.” ”A Bridge Between Two Worldviews” turned out to be a literal description of the Hilton Anatole today, because on one side of the hotel was Harry Potter fandom, and on the other, a Gospel for Asia missions conference. Jeffrey Weiss picked up on the interesting situation as well and blogged about it here. Apparently, apart from a few minor and irritating scuffles, the two groups managed to avoid hostilities and be civil. In my rush from presentation to presentation, I missed the interactions.
It was a fun conference. Now it’s time to rest, fly home, work for two days, and then start my family vacation with my two favorite people in the entire world, whom I’ve missed terribly these past few days.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m not sure where to put this, but I came across this interview with Andrew Stanton, Pixar writer/director for Wall-E.
http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/andrewstanton.html
It’s interesting how biblical themes bubble up when you want to tell a ‘big’ story.
And while I haven’t seen it yet, it looks interesting.
… But why, when I see the Wall-E character do I hear ‘Number 5 is alive’?
Travis, I am hoping in your up coming podcasts you’ll talk about James Thomas’s approach to re-reading the series in some detail. I looked online and can’t find mention of it anywhere and I am very interested. I am now, more than ever, saddened I wasn’t able to make it to Portus.
Travis, nice job on your presentations, too. And I hope you will allow me to say that I also thought James Thomas’s presentation was the best, even though you and Penny (and Greg) did wonderful sessions.
Cannot wait for your further thoughts on King’s Cross. Yes, there is ambiguity in that passage, and much of the series. Just not sure that is a strong enough argument for saying that there was not actual interaction between Harry and Dumbledore.
Thank you, Travis, for all the reports from the conference. It sounds like a lot of thoughtful & intriguing scholarship was presented. Looking forward to hearing more on the discussions there.