Harry Potter and the “Deeper Magic”: Narrating Hope in Children's Literature

Griesinger, Emily

doi:10.1177/014833310205100308

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The complexity and richness of the topics addressed in the novels (Mulholland, ) make them appealing to both children and adults (Heilman, ; Patrick & Patrick, ). As such, it not surprising that they have stimulated debates and controversies on moral, religious, and educational topics among scholars of various disciplines (Griesinger, ; Senland & Vozzola, ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice

Vezzali

Stathi

Giovannini

et al. 2014

J Applied Social Pyschol

168

117

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Recent research shows that extended contact via story reading is a powerful strategy to improve out-group attitudes. We conducted three studies to test whether extended contact through reading the popular best-selling books of Harry Potter improves attitudes toward stigmatized groups (immigrants, homosexuals, refugees). Results from one experimental intervention with elementary school children and from two cross-sectional studies with high school and university students (in Italy and United Kingdom) supported our main hypothesis. Identification with the main character (i.e., Harry Potter) and disidentification from the negative character (i.e., Voldemort) moderated the effect. Perspective taking emerged as the process allowing attitude improvement. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed in the context of extended intergroup contact and social cognitive theory

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice

Vezzali

Stathi

Giovannini

et al. 2014

J Applied Social Pyschol

168

117

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Th e world of the Harry Potter series does not even attain the inconsistent position that Western society holds toward iconic or endangered species, or the Western tendency toward eating less fl esh. Other critics have pointed out the traditional conservative nature of Hogwarts in the portrayal of other aspects of society (Holden, 2000;Griesinger, 2002). Th is conservatism extends to its treatment of nonhuman sentient beings, so its value as a standard for Christian values as described by some Christian critics (Greisinger, 2003;Dickerson & O'Hara, 2006) is questionable.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As the infl uence of the Harry Potter novels on popular culture spreads, the series has drawn no shortage of condemnation from scholars and educators, critical of the way the books portray societal norms and Christian values, their sexual stereotyping, and their conservative and derivative descriptions of boarding school life (Dickerson & O'Hara, 2006;Griesinger, 2002;Holden, 2000). Notably lacking has been any critique of the way nonhuman animals and other nonhuman sentient beings are portrayed in the worlds of Harry Potter, Narnia, and Middle Earth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, and Animals: A Review of the Treatment of Nonhuman Animals and Other Sentient Beings in Christian-Based Fantasy Fiction

Morris

2009

Soc Animals

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Th e way that nonhuman animals and other nonhuman sentient beings are portrayed in the Christian-based Harry Potter series, C. S. Lewis's Narnia series, and Tolkien's Middle Earth stories is discussed from a Christian animal liberationist perspective. Middle Earth comes closest to a liberationist ideal, in that vegetarianism is connected with themes of power, healing, and spirituality. Narnia could be described as a more enlightened welfarist society where extremes of animal cruelty are frowned upon, but use of animals for food is acceptable. In contrast, the more recent Harry Potter series portrays a less enlightened attitude toward human and nonhuman animals. Animals are treated merely as ends, vegetarianism is unheard of, and the view that even iconic species have intrinsic worth is ridiculed.

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“…Indeed, spectators and audiences are the most easily generalised, assumed and implied within research that is unwilling to actually speak to real spectators. We have learnt by now of the philosophical underpinnings of Rowling’s motifs – the narrative of hope (see Griesinger, 2002), the mirror of Erised, the unforgivable curses, the magic of love, the forbidden forest, the great lake, the motif of the basilisk (see McCarron, 2006), the concept of the Horcrux where a soul is divided as an act of dark magic. But empirical investigations of reception can prove equally fascinating – see for instance Black’s account of Carry, a depressed student for whom ‘the shifting corridors and miraculous dining rooms of Hogwarts are good places to begin the healing process’ (Black, 2003).…”

Section: The Potter Phenomenon and The (Missing?) Empirical Pursuit Omentioning

confidence: 99%

‘To be number one in someone’s eyes …’: Children’s introspections about close relationships in reading Harry Potter

Das

2013

European Journal of Communication

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Audience aesthetics and responses to popular culture genres which were once considered low\ud brow have now long occupied the interests of the academy. This is a point to be taken seriously\ud especially within children’s literature circles, where reading and reception is often generalised\ud about under the theoretical umbrella of ‘the reader’ and ‘the spectator’ who is ‘drawn’ into a\ud range of largely unproven pathways by the text. This article explores youthful perceptions of\ud real-life, close relationships, the projection of these relationships onto those seen in the media\ud text and the resulting mediation of relationship ideals, desires and wishes. Analysing data from\ud fieldwork with teen audiences of the Harry Potter series, this article argues that there is more to\ud the mediation of relationships than the undoubtedly rich discussions of the media bringing people\ud together at the moment of reception/use, whether online or offline. The findings presented in\ud the article reveal the intricate and often perplexing ways in which children continue to introspect\ud long after the act of reception, drawing parallels between relationships in their own lives and\ud those they read about or view. The article draws attention to the introspective depth with\ud which children use screen/text relationships as raw material to ponder emotional questions,\ud ones, for instance, on love, hate, detachment, attachment and friendship, and the many ways the\ud media mediate real-life relationships not by setting unreachable ideals to emulate but by offering\ud interpretive pathways

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Harry Potter and the “Deeper Magic”: Narrating Hope in Children's Literature

Abstract: with their literary precursors, Ann Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre, to illuminate what is traditional and what is original or "re-visionary" in contemporary portrayals of women's experience.

Cited by 8 publications

References 3 publications

The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice

The greatest magic of Harry Potter: Reducing prejudice

Middle Earth, Narnia, Hogwarts, and Animals: A Review of the Treatment of Nonhuman Animals and Other Sentient Beings in Christian-Based Fantasy Fiction

‘To be number one in someone’s eyes …’: Children’s introspections about close relationships in reading Harry Potter

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