Spring Break
Harry Potter mania part 1
Chris Walden/News Editor
Issue date: 7/19/07 Section: Opinions
Let me get one thing straight. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, the books and the movies both - but I am not so much of a fanatic to memorize the smallest details of the mania. I can't spell the names of every professor at Hogwarts or remember the exact memorable quotes, so I'm not a purist, I guess.
I do, however, wear a Gryffindor scarf with me to class and work nearly every day - again, I'm not crazy enough to wear a scarf during the summer.
But enough about me.
Harry Potter has come a long way since his first days in the muggle (non-magic) world before J. K. Rowling introduced him (and the rest of us) to the world of witches and wizards much like our own.
What began as a story written by a down-on-her-luck author about a boy thousands of children worldwide could relate to, has now grown into an expanded experience of just that.
The Harry Potter "mania," as it has been termed in growing to such fame comparable to Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, is not a trendy bandwagon children (and adults) are associating with for the coolness of it.
At the same time, we Potter fans aren't secretly trying to learn witchcraft and undermine traditional institutions. That's not the point at all - there are really a lot of valuable messages the books provide children with at an early and impressionable age.
I'm more for the books than the movies. That being said, Harry Potter's adventures in the ongoing (and almost concluded) series are sending children a message that isn't all about loyalty to friends, bravery, a sense of morals and the like…
The mania itself is a love for being not-cool - for being yourself. Harry Potter isn't a popular guy looking for attention and fame. He's an everyday guy, with everyday weaknesses and problems, growing up in a brave new world filled with complications.
As we follow Harry in his maturing in a world he's not totally familiar with, Harry find that he can find acceptance and strength among his friends merely by being himself.
I do, however, wear a Gryffindor scarf with me to class and work nearly every day - again, I'm not crazy enough to wear a scarf during the summer.
But enough about me.
Harry Potter has come a long way since his first days in the muggle (non-magic) world before J. K. Rowling introduced him (and the rest of us) to the world of witches and wizards much like our own.
What began as a story written by a down-on-her-luck author about a boy thousands of children worldwide could relate to, has now grown into an expanded experience of just that.
The Harry Potter "mania," as it has been termed in growing to such fame comparable to Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, is not a trendy bandwagon children (and adults) are associating with for the coolness of it.
At the same time, we Potter fans aren't secretly trying to learn witchcraft and undermine traditional institutions. That's not the point at all - there are really a lot of valuable messages the books provide children with at an early and impressionable age.
I'm more for the books than the movies. That being said, Harry Potter's adventures in the ongoing (and almost concluded) series are sending children a message that isn't all about loyalty to friends, bravery, a sense of morals and the like…
The mania itself is a love for being not-cool - for being yourself. Harry Potter isn't a popular guy looking for attention and fame. He's an everyday guy, with everyday weaknesses and problems, growing up in a brave new world filled with complications.
As we follow Harry in his maturing in a world he's not totally familiar with, Harry find that he can find acceptance and strength among his friends merely by being himself.
The Daily Eastern News encourages on-topic, civil discussion on its articles posted online. It is our policy not to screen comments before they are posted or edit them after they are posted. However, we reserve the right to remove comments that are off-topic, malicious, libelous or include excessive foul language. The DEN also reserves the right to turn off all comments on any story it deems necessary.
Comments violating copyright law will also be removed.
Users who repeatedly violate this policy will be banned from commenting.
If you have any questions on our comment policy or wish to report a comment that you feel violates these standards, please e-mail a link to the article to our Online Editor at DENNews.com@gmail.com.
Be the first to comment on this story