Hp Hype?

Setun

Firstly, apologies about another Harry Potter thread, but I wanted to discuss the franchise here rather than in the obviously biased Harry Potter section.
Basicaly, I find the loyalty and mania associated with those who read the books confusing. Why? I can only compare it with music's pop charts, people just get it because of the newpapers banging on about it for months beforehand. It seems everybody wants to jump on the media bandwagon dressed as trolls and witches and hobgoblins outside a bookstore at 12am on a Friday night. Is there something I missed? In my opinion it doesn't deserve the hype, I'm not saying the book is rubbish but why do so many people go berserk about it???

dudara

Well, I'd imagine that from a kid's viewpoint, getting to go shopping at midnight dressed as a witch/wizard is pretty exciting.

The story itself, while simple, has something that all people can understand. We all desire to be plucked from obscurity like Harry was, and to be told that we have more potential than we ever imagined

Dades

I've never actually read a HP book, but knowing the concept I can see how the whole thing is appealing to kids.

A boarding school for wizard kids - an orphan with fantastic magic powers - cool bad guys/monsters - good friends and fun.

I'd definitely be reading it if I was half my age.

Pigman II

I've never read the books either so I can't comment on their quality but I don't think it's as easy to get kids to buy into 'fads' as it is to market for teenagers. IMHO kids are more perceptive and less bounded by peer pressure and therefore less likely to put up with something just because it is the 'in' thing this week.

There has to be something to HP I guess for them to buy into it and especially stay with it in the long term.

CuLT

I think the obsession is a bit OTT. The films are enjoyable (haven't read the books), but it's all too reminiscent of the odd individuals who "learned Klingon" in the eighties.

The Fantasy genre really no longer holds any appeal for me, though I'd like to reread the Narnia books.

Dades

CuLT wrote:

I think the obsession is a bit OTT. The films are enjoyable (haven't read the books), but it's all too reminiscent of the odd individuals who "learned Klingon" in the eighties.

I think the obsession is mostly media-hype. Sure there will be kids waiting for a midnight release outside a store, but most kids will read the book, talk about it while it's new and move on.

CuLT wrote:

The Fantasy genre really no longer holds any appeal for me, though I'd like to reread the Narnia books.

I assume you've read "His Dark Materials". Now they are books worth getting excited about.

CuLT

The Atheist wrote:

I assume you've read "His Dark Materials". Now they are books worth getting excited about.

Heh, forgive my ignorance, it sounds like a porno

Dades

CuLT wrote:

Heh, forgive my ignorance, it sounds like a porno

*shocked with outrage*

Seriously if you haven't read the "His Dark Materials" trilogy then I can't recommend it enough.
The reviews and rating says it all.
Edited to say: don't read the reviews - some 'king idiot has given away every ending.

I read the books as an adult and was blown away.
(I now have a cherished signed copy of the trilogy - how nerdy).

grimloch

The Atheist wrote:

I read the books as an adult and was blown away.
(I now have a cherished signed copy of the trilogy - how nerdy).

Something I must do again, I read them years back and probably missed a few of the underlying themes like that religious business and maybe some I don't know about.

In conclusion they're great. Being made into a film too I'm told.

Dades

grimloch wrote:

Being made into a film too I'm told.

Yeah am very dubious about that fact given some recent adaptations (Hitchhikers Guide anyone?) and the threat of sidestepping any unpalatable reference to the "Church".

Movie info linky

Sorry waaay of topic now... BACK TO HARRY!

supersheep

Hitchhikers wasn't that bad unless you compare it to the books - by the standards of most films, it's actually quite good. I'm dreading the HDM adaptation though - the potential is there for ruining some of the best books I have ever read.

Back on topic. As to why Harry is so popular, it's obviously tapped into something special. That 'large-scale cult' thing that only a few series get. It's the same as why Star Trek is so popular, or Star Wars. Of course, when the books end, it'll probably die out.
I can't answer for the kind of person who would go to a slumber party dressed as a wizard, cos I'm just a TAD past that stage, but HP books appeal to me because they're light, they're gripping and they appeal to the sense of magic in me. Plus, they've got loads and loads of cool conspiracy theories, which are always fun.
Still, dressing up does seem a little over the top to me. Then again, what do I know? I used to write fanfic... <shamed>

Dades

supersheep wrote:

Then again, what do I know? I used to write fanfic... <shamed>

LOL

Yeah, well I once wrote an episode of AIRWOLF.

supersheep

Yeah, but Airwolf was a super-chopper. It was a cheesy 80's show, but it had a super-chopper. Harry Potter has no super-choppers. It has wands. And brooms. Imagine if Airwolf had brooms... See, that's why Airwolf fanfic must be cooler than HP fanfic...

Dades

Heheheh

Yes but it's your fanfic - you could have put a super-chopper in there.
Harry Potter and the Super-Chopper.

Ron: "Quick Harry, Smeglamesh is approaching on his fiery eagle!"
Harry: "You just keep the Super Chopper steady".
Ron "What are doing - where's your wand?"
Harry "Who needs a wand when you've got heat-seeking SA-7s..."

supersheep

That's one hell of an idea. I think I may actually write that! Seriously. Harry Potter and Airwolf - the best team EVER!
Remind me to write this if I forget...

CuLT

Harry Potter and the Nucelar Arms Dealers.

Alternatively, Enid Blyton and J.K. Rowling combine to create:

Harry Potter and the Smugglers of Smugglers Cove.
Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Smuggling Smugglers.
Harry Potter and the Haunted Tower... of Smugglers.

actually, this could be a rocking idea for a thread.

Sleepy

There is a "Harry Potter and ..." thread in the Harry Potter Forum.

Why are the Harry Potter books so successful? I think Dudara hit on one of the main reasons:

Dudara wrote:

We all desire to be plucked from obscurity like Harry was, and to be told that we have more potential than we ever imagined

Aside from that, the stories are quite well written and, in a lesson no doubt learned from Roald Dahl, Rowling never patronises the reader which is the downfall of so many children's books. She's allowed Harry and his friends to grow up and each book has been slightly more complex than the one's before it, allowing the series to "grow up" with her readers.

The theme itself is one that will always appeal to children. Because it's been done so well, it also appeals to the inner child of many adults as well. Sure, dressing up as a witch or wizard to go to one of the book launches would be a bit sad for a grown adult to do but for a child it's like a second Halloween. No doubt the media focusing on the first few bookshops to open at midnight to allow fans of the book to get it early helped spread the idea but I think it's possible that one of the reasons the media were interested at all in the first place (or that there was even enough demand for the first few bookshops to open at midnight) is that there are so few children's books capable of capturing a child's imagination (and attention) as the Harry Potter series has done.

Roald Dahl's books or The Chronicles of Narnia are the only two instances I can think of that even came close in terms of getting children to read (and I didn't even like The Chronicles of Narnia). With such books/series being so rare and each generation's tendency to lament the next's lack of interest in learning/reading etc., it's quite understandable for the media to focus on something that encourages them to do so.