This is the first extended text-based analysis of the social and political implications of the Harry Potter phenomenon. Arguments are primarily based on close readings of the first four Harry Potter books and the first two films - in other words, a 'text-to-world' method is followed. This study does not assume that the phenomenon concerns children alone, or should be lightly dismissed as a matter of pure entertainment. The amount of money, media coverage, and ideological unease involved indicates otherwise. The first part provides a survey of responses (both of general readers and critics) to the Harry Potter books. Some of the methodological decisions underlying this study itself are also explained here. The second part examines the presentation of certain themes, including gender, race and desire, in the Harry Potter books, with a view to understanding how these may impinge on social and political concerns of our world. This is an extended text-based analysis of the social and political implications of the Harry Potter phenomenon. Arguments are primarily based on close readings of the first four Harry Potter books and the first two films in other words, a "text-to-world" method is followed. This study does not assume that the phenomenon concerns children alone, or should be lightly dismissed as a matter of pure entertainment. The amount of money, media coverage and ideological unease involved indicates otherwise. The first part provides a survey of responses (both of general readers and critics) to the Harry Potter books. Some of the methodological decisions underlying this study itself are also explained here. The second part examines the presentation of certain themes, including gender, race and desire, in the Harry Potter books, with a view to understanding how these may impinge on social and political concerns of our world "This is the first extended, text-based analysis of the social and political implications of the Harry Potter phenomenon. The book's arguments are primarily based on close readings of the first four Harry Potter books and the first two films. This study does not assume that the phenomenon concerns children alone, or should be lightly dismissed as a matter of pure entertainment. The amount of money, media coverage and ideological unease involved indicates otherwise. The first part provides a survey of responses (of both general readers and critics) to the Harry Potter books. Some of the methodological decisions underlying this study itself are also explained here. The second part examines the presentation of certain themes, including gender, race and desire, in the Harry Potter books, with a view to understanding how these may impinge on the social and political concerns of our world."--BOOK JACKET. Front Matter....Pages i-vii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Book Covers....Pages 3-7 Children and Adults....Pages 8-13 The Seriousness of Social and Political Effects....Pages 14-23 Text-to-World Assumptions (Some General Definitions)....Pages 24-28 A Thought about Open and Closed Texts....Pages 29-32 The Irrelevance of J.K. Rowling....Pages 33-39 Children’s Literature....Pages 40-54 Fantasy Literature....Pages 55-66 Religious Perspectives....Pages 67-74 Locations and Limitations....Pages 75-81 Front Matter....Pages 83-83 Three Worlds....Pages 85-92 Repetition and Progression....Pages 93-96 Evasive Allusions....Pages 97-98 Blood....Pages 99-110 Servants and Slaves....Pages 111-120 The Question of Class....Pages 121-126 Desire....Pages 127-132 The Magic System of Advertising....Pages 133-140 Movie Magic....Pages 141-150 The Beginning....Pages 151-164 Back Matter....Pages 165-185
