In The News
CNN Features Harry Potter in Academia
HP ReferencesWhile many readers and fans of the Harry Potter novels have long delved into the deeper meaning and context of the books in broader relation to other subjects, it would seem college universities here in the US are now following suit. CNN has a special feature article now online, highlighting the use of Harry Potter as curriculum at some of the universities in the States, including at Yale Divinity School, where graduate student Danielle Tumminio is teaching a course called “Christian Theology and Harry Potter.” CNN reports the “course uses all seven Potter books and the students examine Christian themes such as sin, evil and resurrection.
“It was a struggle for me as I put the class together, because I knew if I didn’t construct this really well … that a lot of what I was doing would be missed or misconstrued. I certainly didn’t want to come across as someone trying to indoctrinate my students,” Tumminio said. “I also wanted to make it clear that it was a critical endeavor, and that it wasn’t … that you’d sit around all day talking about how great Luna Lovegood was.”The class was an immediate draw for students. Seventy-nine people showed up at the first session for the 18 open seats.”
The article continues to note that others, such as authors John Granger, Philip Nel, and Ed Kerns have long seen the benefits to using Harry Potter in an academic situation. “Edmund Kern, author of “The Wisdom of Harry Potter” and professor at Lawrence University, was originally attracted to the books based on his training as a historian of early religion, magic and witchcraft. For him, the books’ historical impact, rather than their literary context, makes for a more intriguing analysis.
“As a kind of global cultural phenomenon, Harry Potter in a sense is unprecedented. I think movies have been extremely popular around the world, I think that certain music has been extremely popular around the world, but never before has a single literary endeavor caught the attention of so many people,” Kern said. Lisa Lowe, professor of American Studies at Yale, has read all seven books not as a scholar, but as a parent.
“What [Rowling’s] really done is come up with a mode of captivating a whole generation: it’s a form of captive concentration that took place over a course of nearly 10 years,” Lowe said.”As an adult, you’ll be thinking, ‘What would Harry have done?’ “
If you are interested in this type of deeper analytical and thoughtful examination of the Harry Potter books, be sure to check out our forum, where our Obscurus section focuses on these types of discussions, as well as Scribbulus, which contains many wonderful academic essays relating to the wonderful novels by J.K. Rowling.
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The college I’m planning on going to next year--Elon University—has a four-week Hogwarts for Muggles class! I’m probably overqualified, but I am still so excited to take it!!
The college I’m planning on going to next year--Elon University—has a four-week Hogwarts for Muggles class! I’m probably overqualified, but I am still so excited to take it!!
i go to a catholic school and i hate when othere people say it should be against my religion to read this book because if they stepped into my school they will realise almost every one in my school has read all the books and they love them an are completly the opposite of evil
I was thisclose to taking a class on HP in England a few years ago. Unfortunately, I was financially inable to do so. Glad it’s here in the States. I wonder if any univeristies around here are offering such course. It would be loads of fun.
Please help me flag this stupid Harry-hating video off of YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irB7BGHzXjM
They disabled comments, obviously because they realize how ridiculous their claims are. It should be flagged as hateful.
Thank you.
i study Marketing and Harry Potter has been mentioned from time to time. I love it!
Fizzingwhizbee,
Not to elicit a religious discussion, but I’m very confused about your post, and I’m not sure how it makes sense. For those who believe in Christ and know the story, he did come back to finish his task—hint’s the resurrection. And, he’s coming back again to completely finish the task and triumph over evil for good—at which time Satan will be thrown into the lake of fire and bound to Hell forever—finished—just like Voldemort. To say that Harry’s sacrifice represents more than Christ’s because Harry wasn’t called by anyone makes no sense, either. What about Dumbledore who was “calling” Harry up until the end? Yes, (almost) all humans hold love in their hearts—not just Christians, but Christ did what He did out of love as well. To say otherwise is ludicrous. Why else would he have suffered the way he did when he could have stopped it? While the Harry Potter stories may represent numerous universal themes and truths—and perhaps parallels to many religions—there is no denying that there is an obvious parallel to the story of Christ.
...And furthermore, as an English/Literature teacher, I can tell you that the whole point of literature is to analyze—and over analyze. That’s why authors write stories—there are clear messages and lessons to be learned in their writing, and parts of their lives shine through their writing. Rowling herself has said numerous times how Harry’s struggle with life, death, and his beliefs parallel her own. The religious parallel is nothing but obvious.
I find some of the above posting quite interesting, especially from those currently enrolled in or about to enroll in US colleges. Several of the campuses mentioned are in fact religious based schools connected with specific Christian doctrines and churches, while one in particular is a product of the evangelical and charismatic christian movements of recent years here in the US ... I am very very surprised to learn that these campuses are offering any activity or classes connected to HP at all! Good sign, actually, since our culture and education system are premised on the free exchange of ideas and toleration!
I just want to thank Laura Mallory because if she wasn’t causing such a fuss my family would have never read Harry Potter. Praise God for Laura!
I love the Kings Cross Chapter because I have had a NDE.
I am so very pleased and overwhelmed that Christians like myself are able to step out side of the box of only what is in the Bible will teach us what is good from bad. The Harry Potter books have taught be how to relate better to people around me from the good example portrayed by Emma, Daniel and Rupert as very good friends in and out of the films. I have learnt how to feel for others apart from myself and those immediately around me, I have learnt how to motivated myself and others, to make the best out of the worst situations. Oh my, it is too much to mention how these books and films have inspired me. I can only say thank you God for the wisdom and creativity of J K Rowlings, David Yates and Warner Brothers and for the remarkable talented of such young, gentle and tender actors and actresses.
I think Brandi’s right on about the purpose of literature being that it should be read for its message. To add to that, those of us in the field of children’s lit feel that it’s particularly important to dissect the messages in children’s books because we’re giving them to our children to read. (Note, calling something children’s lit doesn’t mean it’s only for children; it only means the intended audience is children. I know lots of adults who read children’s lit for a living.) It’s important to be aware of what children’s authors are trying to say—not because we should censor what children read but just because we and our children should have some critical awareness of the messages we’re being given. (Do a basic Wikipedia study on British colonialism and then reread Babar for a quick example of what I’m talking about.)
Im sorry but having read some of the posts I think some people are frankly insane and take Harry Potter way to the extreme. I am an Eng Lit graduate student and agree that yes we should be analysing the literature we give our children to read but I dont aree that the whole purpose of literature is to analysise. Yes the message is important but primairily we read for enjoyment. And to state the the actors within Harry Potter have inspired you to live a better christian life? Wow taht sounds absolutely barking! You dont even know them. Yes there are parallels with HP and teh story of Jesus but in no way is HP about religion. It does promote certain messages, empathy for others for example, but this is not exclusive to christianity.
There is a “legitiamte” “academic” (please note use of the quote marks on both words) question that I have never seen addressed: what is there about the HP novels that has struck such a responsive chord in the modern world, across cultures, religions and languages? Granted, we have an unusually gifted writer and its a joy to read her works, but there must be something about the content of the story that is triggering such a widespread, global and positive response… and to my knowledge no one has ever really examined that aspect in any depth.
There’s a dissertation topic for you, bemused!
Just a quick note, the “Christian Theology” course at Yale isn’t a Div School course, it’s a Residential College Seminar (i.e., special Yale College undergrad class) taught by a grad student. It’s also very hard to get into.
Bemused,
It’s not very nice to call people insane, and no one said that the messages in the novel are exlusive to Christianity. In fact, I think I said the opposite when I said that the HP stories “represent numerous universal themes and truths—and perhaps parallels to many religions,” (me). Please read the posts more carefully next time before you call people insane and misinterpret what they have said.
Thanks,
Brandi
Somewhere, Laura Mallory is crying.
Posted by mollywobble on March 25, 2008 @ 09:05 AM
YES
You know, the only real truth is the truth we find in life and in eachother. Some define that as religion, some as experience, some as magic. What Harry Potter does is give everyone a common language to express their inner belief, a common platform for discussion. What JKR has done is take the “mine vs yours” antagonistic approach to discussion and put it on the shelf, in order to discuss “we and ours”...Christian, athiest, straight, gay, it doesn’t matter…what matters is that we learn to live together, tolerate and celebrate life and love and family.
You are amazing Jo, we all love you, whatever individual balcony we crow from!
Just wondering if anybody knows the e-mail address of Ms. Mallory, so this can bve forwarded to her and make her understand that what she is fighting for is just a wast of time and money. If that course will be offered here in Canada, I will be in the FRONT ROW :)
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Leaky Poll
Who should win the JKR/WB vs RDR lawsuit?
- JKR and WB: The HPL takes too much and adds too little7486 (78%)
- RDR: Lexicons are fair use1565 (16%)
- I'll answer in the comments449 (4%)
Hey Tory, I’m super religious and I love the books! :) But I agree with you, I wish they would just read the books. All I know is if I ever go back to school to get my masters when my kids are a bit older, I am looking for one of these courses. That would just be so cool!!!!! Would it be terrible to base my decision on where I get my master on which college offers Harry Potter book courses????