RSSBurning Potter
Aug 11th, 2007 | By Eric Hoefler | Category: Education/Literacy
I just finished the final book in the Harry Potter series. It’s a fitting ending to a great series. Regardless of your opinions of the books themselves, I find it hard for anyone to think of Rowling’s work and not also think: “What a great thing she’s done for kids” … in at least two ways: she’s encouraged kids to read in numbers no one else has even touched, and the strong moral line of the novels is inspiring in a way no Sunday School lesson ever was for me.
Nevertheless …
I found this “tract” this morning:1
I’ve always found fear-mongering to be the approach taken by those with the most to fear, and book burning to be the act of intellectual cowardice and weak faith.2 Here are a few Rowling quotes on this on-going controversy:
You have a perfect right, of course, as every parent does, and I’m a parent, to decide what your child is exposed to. You do not have the right to decide what everyone else’s children are exposed to. So that’s how I feel about it.
[The moral significance of the tales seems] blindingly obvious.
The key for her was the choice between what is right and what is easy,
because that, that is how tyranny is started, with people being apathetic and taking the easy route and suddenly finding themselves in deep trouble.
Read more about the Potter/Christian controversy on Wikipedia. 3
- ”Tracts” are those little pamphlets distributed by the fervently religious, often with cartoons, that apparently have the power, in a few tiny pages, to entirely change your views and beliefs; this one came to my attention through A Distant Soil [back]
- I understand that some people burn books in protest, as a symbolic act to try to bring attention to an issue. I still feel conflicted about it, though, even when the purpose is legit. [back]
- Wikipedia is another oft-demonized work, though in this case its accusers tend to be librarians, note-card-carrying English teachers, and stuffy members of the intelligentsia. [back]
Related posts (auto-generated):
- A Religious Shoot-out [Disclaimer: By making both a "Full Feed" and an "Education Only" feed available at the top of this blog, I sorta' warn that I might...
- This is Getting Ridiculous As if we needed more reasons for people to avoid the teaching profession and shy away from the use of technology: Norwich, Conn seventh grade...
- MySpace and Parental Guidance Not long ago, I posted an entry in which I supported maintaining the freedom to access and share information, tools, and resources. I still agree...
- Freedom and Safety for All Last week, my creative writing students pulled out their laptops and headed over to the eStudio that I setup on ELGGSpaces (which is designed specifically...
- Define Neutral for Me Wired News recently published an articled entitled "Neutral Net? Who Are You Kidding?" which called into question the idea that the net is currently a...
I have yet (as you know) to read a single Potter book, and never will…but, even I disagree with the religious right’s rampage on this series of books. Honestly, don’t they get it…it’s just going to make their kids want to read the books more? There’s more evil in the REAL world than the fantasy world. These parents need to focus on making this world a better place, before they attack one that doesn’t exist. That’s what these nutjobs need to worry about. Because of Rowling, more kids became readers. That’s a great thing. It drives me crazy.
*POSSIBLE SPOILER-If you plan to read the book yet, please don’t read this comment!*
And then there’s the whole other end of things…There was so much biblical symbolism in the books, a lot of people noticed that, too. It’s impossible to miss for anyone who’s read the Bible. I’ve heard from people who are enraged that Harry Potter turned out to be a “messiah” like figure in the end. J.K.Rowling doesn’t deny it, either. I don’t know if it was deliberate on her part, after all the criticism, etc. Anyway, I don’t get what the problem is, it’s a kids book. There are a lot other books with magic, etc. in them that I’ve yet to hear parents criticizing. Oh and say, Tolkien (not so much a children’s book writer maybe) was a very devoted Christian and his books had all the enchanted stuff, too, but noone’s screaming his books lead people to hell (or are they and I’m not aware?).
I must admit I was a little disappointed with the ending though. And what’s the point of having a “19 years later” part if you won’t tell us something surprising?
Not sure why you’d say you’d NEVER read a Harry Potter book, Shawn. Are you just not interested? Or is it some sort of antibestseller stance? Then again, I might not be one to question, as I’ve refused to watch Titanic since it came out and my college roommate kept blasting the soundtrack while writing Sociology papers. ::shudder::
@ Shawn: I agree the focus would be better served elsewhere, but I suspect the ones concerned think they are focusing on making “this world” a better place. As to the distinction between fantasy and reality … sometimes in these cases, that line isn’t as clearly drawn as one would hope. But yes … Rowling’s done a great thing.
@ Pi: You’re right about the symbolism, though I haven’t done any research as to Rowling’s intentions there. I’m sure there were some protests about Tolkien, but Rowling is more widely read now, so perhaps that accounts for the difference in treatment?
@ Jeff: Glad to see you doing well and commenting, even from the other side of the pond!
Great question! It’s a lack of interest in the fantasy (realism, Eric?) category that keeps me from Potter, plus you’re right…I’m very much an anti-bestseller individual. Good call. I also refuse to ever watch Titanic!!
Eric: Thanks! I’m back now and working on figuring out how to get back to Scotland ASAP, like next summer. Fantastic place, and one I hope you get to visit on your wandering travels.
Shawn: Fair enough…I heard the ship sinks at the end.