In Wednesday's lesson within the unit, Film Genres and National Cinemas, students began their investigation into fantasy genre films. This was certainly an exciting genre to move onto, especially with so many students in the class being Harry Potter fans. In both the novels and the films, the Harry Potter series offers audiences from around the globe an escape into a world of magic and wonder. Looking at film and the increasing cinematographic capabilities of the industry, beloved stories can come to life on the big screen, even those stories that are ‘larger than life’ and take place in fantastical alternate worlds and realities.
Honestly, I was originally planning to write this blog about The Wizard of Oz (1939) film, and how it was rejuvenated through its Disney prequel Oz: The Great and Powerful (2013) that came along a whopping 74 years later. I will however save that discussion and analysis for another occasion (watch this space!). After marking the ‘flash writing’ pieces that the class completed (15 minutes, silent writing in response to a surprise prompting question), I decided that was necessary for me to also reflect on the Harry Potter series (many identified it as their favourite fantasy franchise), my experiences with it, and what it has taught me and countless other adoring fans over time. When it comes to novels and films, I am often open to reading and watching almost anything, and I do on each occasion and encounter genuinely manage to pinpoint how a text provides value to the audience in one way or another, however not every book or film series is as prolific and widely celebrated as Harry Potter. Here are my top 5 reasons why I love the series…
5. The world is welcoming
For Harry (and many other people in the real and imaginary world), life is unfair to say the least. In the first instalment, we meet Harry just before he turns 11, basically living the life of Cinderfella (1960) at his nasty aunt and uncle’s house. Harry seems so innocent and sweet, yet all he receives in return is cruelty and degradation. This pitiful situation however is turned quickly on its head when we meet Hagrid, the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. This gorgeous new friend reveals not only that Harry is not “just Harry” and is actually “a wizard”, but also that the world of magic is a place that awaits him with open arms. Hagrid makes Harry a homemade birthday cake, stands up for him when he is treated badly by his relatives, takes him school shopping, and establishes himself as the first kind and reliable adult that Harry has ever known. Even with ‘bully’ characters like Draco around, and evil magic and intentions lurking in the corners of Hogwarts, Harry is never without a stable support system of friends and trusted adults, and is also financially liberated thanks to his parents leaving him an inheritance. This allows Harry to be free to start a new life, where he is finally nurtured and cared for.
4. The characters are complex
At first glance, there are certainly some stereotypical individuals and groups in the Harry Potter franchise, however there is much more than meets the eye with the majority of the characters we meet. While Harry is our protagonist and hero, he is not perfect, makes mistakes, continues to grieve the loss of his parents, and has a range of interests and priorities. My favourite thing about Harry, shown particularly in his portrayal by Daniel Radcliffe in the films, is that magic never ceases to amaze him. Whether it be in the first or fourth movie, Harry’s face lights up when anything magical is happening. There is a part in the fourth film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) where he and the Weasley family enter a tiny tent, which turns out to be a huge and decadent dwelling inside. Harry smiles and exclaims “I love magic”. On one hand, viewers may scoff at his continual surprise, and that even after being a Hogwarts student for many years, he is taken aback by moments like this, however I find that it is just a sign of his continual gratitude and genuine delight for the magical world, and the beauty and wonder (big or small) it has to offer. On the other hand, Snape is coded as a villain from the get go, but we come to know the depths of his love and the extent of his commitment to doing what is right and just, no matter the risk. Even Draco demonstrates that he is more than the blonde boy who constantly threatens to “tell [his] father about this” and that, and who throws around discriminatory slurs (i.e. "mudbloods" - witches and wizards who have some “muggle”/regular person heritage) at anyone who can hear him. By the end of the series, we can see his struggle to fulfil the wishes of his family, and his reluctance to carry on their legacy of hate.
3. Harry is basically a Dickensian hero
Okay, I know it sounds really silly to say that Harry Potter is your favourite Harry Potter character but…that is the case with me! However, I must assert that I have my reasons, and that I am not just being lazy, like the Pokemon fans who like Pikachu the best. Harry’s spirit and endurance are second to none other than classic literary figures such as David from David Copperfield (1850), and Pip from Great Expectations (1860). All three of these boys possess a legendary amount of resilience and Harry specifically, despite the enormous amount of sorrow, death, and loss he is faced with, maintains hope for himself as well as for the future of the wizarding world.
2. The friendships are forever
Who doesn’t love Harry, Ron, and Hermione? Despite their differences, these three make up the perfect team, and together are unstoppable. With their collective strengths and talents, they can face evil and come out on top. I particularly love when they work together in the first instalment to get to the Philosopher’s Stone. Hermione’s thrill for learning and collecting (at times seemingly trivial) facts pays off big time when the children are tangled in the deadly ‘Devil’s Snare’ plant, and even Ron’s chess hobby (something that in other film contexts would be coded as geeky) allows him to face significant danger head on. While Harry is often the last to face down Voldemort or one of his iterations, it is clear that his friends help pave the way to his successes, and provide him with purpose and a sense of belonging in the world. However, it is important to note that just because Harry ‘gets help’ does not make him any less of a hero, as it is a blessing to have people in your life that you can count on, and who can count on you in return.
1. School is extra special
I am definitely not saying that school isn’t special (I am a teacher at an absolutely beautiful school after all!). I am however saying that it is so fun to see what school would look like if you were to learn magic as well! Growing up, I always adored watching shows like Winx Club (2004-2019, though I watched it in the early 2000s), Sabrina the Teenage Witch (particularly the animated series), and of course Wizards of Waverly Place (2007-2012). Like Hogwarts, In the Winx series, Alfea is a secret and ancient school for fairies, where they learn to control their magical abilities. In the latter two shows, we follow school aged protagonists who live in the normal world, but experience it in a far more technicoloured view due to their ability to access magic, and a fantastical world that is tucked away from the view of many. As a student, my personal experience of school was not the most nurturing in regards to matters of wellbeing. Watching characters like Harry transfer from the ‘school of hard knocks’ to Hogwarts was a freeing experience as a teenager. On a curriculum level, I have always been fascinated with the possible subjects offered at these ‘fantasy schools’. Instead of Chemistry, Harry and his friends go to Potions class. In the more recent Netflix version of Sabrina Spellman in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020) series, she is delighted when she spends more time studying at the Academy of Unseen Arts for witches and can learn “sacred geometry” rather than regular Maths at her human school, Baxter High. Like in all aspects of fantasy, the possibilities are endless, and even if you feel like there is no place for you in the real world, there may be a world that is just for you right around the corner.
References:
Sunnyvids. (2019). “Hogwarts is my home”, online video, viewed on 16/3/23, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dp_AKwv5vI
Comments