Harry Potter Popular Culture

Harry Potter: the Story that Defined a Generation Every generation has taken certain elements of popular culture, whether it be music, movies, books, or fashion trends, and deemed is as “theirs”. For instance, those who grew up in the 60s claim The Beatles and bell bottom jeans as theirs, and those who grew up in the 80s claim heavy metal music and John Hughes movies. This being said, every generation has its “story”, a film or novel, that they feel connected to, that they claim as their own, and that has ultimately shaped their identity. Harry Potter is this generation’s story; this can be seen in the overwhelming success the books and movies had, its prevalence that remains after the end of the series, and the strong connection that this

For instance, fans of the series are flocking to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park at Universal Studios. Here, they can drink butterbeer, visit replicas of shops and locations featured in the novels, and ride attractions based off the novels. This interactive world has become so popular that it has expanded from the initial replica of Hogsmeade to the new addition of Diagon Alley. With being able to experience firsthand what was once a world only seen on the screen or read about, followers of the story are able to carry on their love for this cultural phenomenon. Moreover, the Harry Potter magic continues on through several different internet websites made by not only fans but also by J.K. Rowling herself. Among the long list of sites, the most notable are Pottermore, Hogwartsishere, and Hogwarts online. All three of these sites follow the same basic set up: become a member, get sorted into your Hogwarts house, enroll in classes, and play along with others from around the world. However, since Pottermore was created by J.K. Rowling, it gives members access to exclusive interviews and articles related to the Harry Potter series that cannot be accessed elsewhere, which makes it the most popular amongst the fans. “Contrary to the notion of a passive audience, Harry Potter fans are active in their

One of the major reasons why such a strong connection was made with the fans is the fact that they literally were able to grow with Harry Potter. The books were released gradually, some having up to two years in between releases, so the readers grew up quite a lot across the series of the book; because of this, the book had to maintain its appeal right through teenage years. Rowling’s writing style managed to do this by starting off simple enough for a child embarking on their first novels, and developed into something much more adult and complex, which was compelling enough for both teenagers and adults. Anthony Gierzynski states that “Those 10-year-olds going to the first movie, holding the hands of their parents, ended up driving to the last midnight shows.” By having the series grow along with the fans, both literally and metaphorically, this generation has been able to claim Harry Potter as its own. Furthermore, the values and beliefs of this generation have been greatly impacted by the connection to the Harry Potter series. In his essay “How 'Harry Potter ' shaped the political culture of a generation”, Gierzynski goes on to assert that “Reading the books correlated with greater levels of acceptance for