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theory about magical realism
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essay on magical realism
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Who has never dreamed of witches, broomsticks and full moon light? I always wished, when I was younger, I could turn and do magic like a witch. I even bought little magic kits, but it was nothing like the magic I wanted to produce. In my teen years, a book called Harry Potter caught my attention. It took me to a world I thought could only belong in my head. J.K. Rowling brought words of description to my dreams and brought out the little witch and wizard in many children's lives. I have not been able to find a more descriptive, memorable, imaginative, and well-written books for both children and adults to read and enjoy.
Why do so many Harry Potter fans reread these fantasies over and over again? Are there secrets that gradually unfold? Are there layers and layers of understanding they are peeling away? Does the imagery enrich each time? The magic remains; whatever the reasons, readers are motivated to read, then once more, and once more again and immerse themselves in the enjoyable world of the written word. First as books, but now as movies, video games, and a multitude of toys Harry Potter has become an important feature of modern popular culture.
The Harry Potter books, written by J.K. Rowling, have sustained consistent attack from Christians because of how they portray witchcraft. It has been said that the Harry Potter books encourage children to accept a view of witchcraft that is benign, even good, and thus will lead them to adopt some form of paganism or Wicca. Christians naturally object to this and...
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...is structured by comforting stereotypes and doesn't upset preconceptions. If it's true that the Harry Potter books are ideologically conservative and, furthermore, exploited by conservative corporations for their own profit, then both the books themselves as well as the wider cultural phenomenon need to be read more critically. It would be inappropriate to take them at face value.
References
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" J.K. Rowling Sep 1998
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secret" J.K. Rowling Jun 2, 1999
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" J.K. Rowling Sep 1999
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" J.K. Rowling Jul 8, 2000
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" J.K. Rowling Jun 2003
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" J.K. Rowling Jul 16, 2005
Like this excerpt from JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” the majority of the book series takes a clear stance against discriminatory practices. However, she also portrays serious stereotyping oversights throughout her work.
The novels of Harry Potter, written by J. K. Rowling are constantly in debate among Christians whether Harry Potter is preaching sorcery and paganism or that the books have a spiritual meaning deeper than most care to look at. It is easy to look through the books and find sources of witchcraft but one could say the same for sources of the gospel. Author, J.K. Rowland has stated that her own Christian faith has in fact informed her writing of the popular series. Many Christians say Harry Potter is incomparable to Christ, being far from perfection while Voldemort seems to strike a different chord of response as far as his character representing The Devil himself.
Imagine discovering that you’re not an ordinary person, but a wizard with magnificent, magical powers. Imagine attending a school where you’ll study transfiguration and charms instead of trigonometry and chem. Imagine the thrill of flying across the sky on a broomstick. These adventures and many others are waiting to be experienced in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by novelist J. K. Rowling. This fanciful and entertaining tale has taken the youth of the nation by storm, and its sales have only been surpassed by the book’s sequels, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Race, and the implications that it places upon a literary series, is pertinent to the understanding of a given text. Simply because a series features more than one racial demographic does not exempt it from racial critiquing; such is the case with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. By taking into account the number of characters that represent different minority demographics and the plot lines that encompass each of these individuals, it becomes apparent that Rowling strove to be inclusive as she was writing the series. However, because of the limited amount of racial diversity incorporated into the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, in addition to the limited plot lines surrounding each of these characters, it can be argued that each serves the purpose of being simply a token addition to the story. Tokenism can be defined as “the practice of doing something only to prevent criticism and give the appearance that people are being treated fairly” (Webster). The inclusion of token characters brings forth, in retrospect, no advancement to the plot and serves only to further reinforce ethnic and racial stereotypes in the minds of children and young adults that read Harry’s story.
I felt angry, confused, and scared. I didn’t know who I could trust or where I could feel safe-- feelings that are overwhelming and utterly terrifying for a second grader. Post-incident, everyday events became obstacles that terrified me. Taking a shower or staying home alone seemed insurmountable. It was difficult to distract myself from the aftermath when the effects were so infiltrated within my daily life. I found comfort in school, which I considered a safe place. I discovered my love for words and became a voracious reader, where I rapidly progressed to reading levels far beyond that of my peers. That year I began the Harry Potter series, which transported me to worlds far different than my own. I could relate to the characters, many of whom had been hurt in one way or another. The Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center even held a Harry Potter camp throughout February break where children who had underwent similar pasts could attend. I identified with the characters in these novels, which not only contributed to my love for reading, but opened the gates to a lifelong quest for
Seemingly every year, there is a new children or young adult book series that takes the world by storm, although forgettable after a short period of time. However, ever since the first book was published in 1997, the Harry Potter collection has continued to gain popularity, shown especially in the achievements of the movies, merchandise, and theme park attractions. One of the reasons behind the overwhelming success is J.K. Rowling’s use of rhetorical devices. For instance, her symbolism, themes, imagery, and foreshadowing add suspense and intrigue to the first novel, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which results in the reader eager to read more about the boy wizard. If the story lacked these features, it would be a rather uninteresting narrative and would not have reached the level of fame that it has today.
The Harry Potter series is known to be a top seller in fanfiction. It has triumphantly captured the attention and imagination of children and adults nationwide. However, some readers may not find this reading very innocent and fun. Some individuals on the other hand have believed that the Harry Potter series is a controversial novel that should not be taught due to its Christian imagery. I however, believe that the Harry Potter series is not deeming and shows no negative claim on the Christian religion.
It all started with groups of Christians making accusations of the series, claiming the mythical world to be quite satanic. In New Mexico, Pastor Jack Brock announces his own perception of the boy in the series as being the face of the devil. Harry Potter’s fight against enemies, such as Voldemort, is said to relate to satan destroying people by luring them down the road of detriment. The destruction of the books was part of a Christmas event, in this church, to terminate items prohibiting its followers from associating with God. Harry Potter novels were terminated alongside ouija boards, particular books by Stephen King, Eminem CDs, etc. To express the effects of the modern day burnings of Harry Potter, BBC news writes, “A number of schools and toy shops have already banned Harry Potter books and merchandise because they fear they will lead children to the occult, while a town in Somerset has raised a petition against the film” (BBC news “'Satanic' Harry Potter books burnt”). The series has also been defended through protests because it is a work of fiction. The Harry Potter works of fiction have been turned into ashes and have been banned due to people believing them to be works of the
Before reading Harry Potter, I very rarely read for pleasure. I found reading boring, almost old fashioned. My frame of mind more readily paralleled Danny Divito in the movie Matlida, who says that “[t]here's nothing you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.” While my view of reading as a child could be summed up in that quote, everything changed when I was introduced to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I can remember to this day when my Dad began reading Harry Potter to me, and how I did not understand just how much this book would change me. Harry Potter and his world of wizardry became my own personal Shangri-La, my escape, my own world. Anytime I wanted, I could ascend to a world of fantasy and explore the depths of my own imagination in a way that I had never been capable of doing before. I became obsessed with the book, reading it before, during, and after sc...
It is impossible to please everyone. This is a simple fact that cannot be argued. Books are a form of expression, and not everyone will agree with the way an author expresses him or herself. For example, according to Pastor John Hagee, “The books and films teach moral relativism and numb the minds of children to profanity and off color humor. Many of you believe it's just harmless fantasy, but its fantasy laced with witchcraft and demonology,” (2007). This was in response to the Harry Potter series, the number one most challenged book for the years 2000-2007 (ALA). The issue is not about how the books have inspired many children to read, it is that they are saying spells that the author has invented. If books are banned because they offend one group, we will not have any boo...
In this study, I set out to find how freshmen UT Engineering students’ battles correlated to the struggles of first-year students at Hogwarts and how that proved J.K. Rowling’s characters were relatable and that the fantastical themes presented in the Harry Potter series were realistic. This is a qualitative study focused on paralleling a fantastical series to normal life. Many scholars are curious about the millennial generation’s behaviors and attitudes, and by having representative people of the age group compare a work of literature to their lives, these questions can be dissected. This study clearly complements current discussions of the fantasy genre. Many people believe that fans of fantasy read (or watch) the genre to escape into an exotic new world. This research question helps ask why people want to run away to the made-up worlds created by fantasy authors by comparing struggles and characters to actual, real life situations. This can aid scholars in “figuring out” the millennial generation.
Goff, Patricia. Producing Harry Potter: Why the Medium is Still the Message. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006. Print.
That ugly things cancel out everything beautiful.” Continuing with the example of Harry Potter, the series also promotes the ideas of selflessness and love which are two traits that can greatly affect who someone grows up to be. This situation is reflected in the aforementioned quote too. Also, children that learn earlier on about sensitive issues tend to be open-minded about them and have a broader understanding of them (Hallman). Similarly, in an interview with Chetan Chauhan, a college student, he said that he thinks that with being able to read books with different views you can learn more about the issues and be able to form your own ideas (Chauhan). Furthermore, these books often teach children what is morally right and how to be the best they can be. Lastly, some of the most censored books are the ones that contain new ideas and concepts for people. According to Kathy Manno, a school librarian, one of the most common reasons for something to be censored was if the content was mystical or creepy which for most people would fit under the category of new
One of the most read series in all literature is Harry Potter. The seven-book succession has sold over 400 million copies and has been translated into over sixty languages. What is it that makes this series so wildly famous? What is it about the boy who lived that makes frenzied readers flock to their local bookstore at midnight on the day of the release to buy the latest installment? How is a story set in a world that doesn’t exist about wizards, witches, magic, and mystical creatures so popular? The series has been able to earn its spot on the New York Times Bestseller list and has granted author J.K. Rowling multiple awards because it is relatable. It is not the setting or the events in the plot of the story that we relate to. We relate to what Harry, his friends, mentors, teachers, caretakers, and even enemies feel. Harry is in a lot of ways exactly like us. He represents some of the good characteristics that all of us have as well as the bad. The series as a whole, is about one thing that is stressed over and over again in the novels, love. The Harry Potter series is one of the most read sequences of novels because the central theme is love and self-sacrifice, and readers are looking for a novel that shows them just that.
This literary analysis will define the importance of self-realization in the fantasy world of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling. Rowling’s fantasy world presents the challenges of a young boy, Harry Potter, that is trapped between the “real world” and the fantasy world of Hogwart’s School. Harry’s transport into the world of Hogwart’s provides him with the potential for self-realization that will fulfill his true identity as a wizard. Hogwarts School is, in fact, a fantasy location, but the overriding realism of his identity as a wizard teaches him about the importance