Harry Potter

About

Harry Potter is a series of seven novels written by J.K. Rowling between 1997 and 2007, following the adventures of an adolescent wizard named Harry Potter and his two friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The main story arc in the books is the conflict between Harry and a dark wizard named Voldermort. The series has become incredibly popular among youths and adults alike, and is often credited with introducing an entire generation of children to reading. Thematically, it is a coming-of-age story, and has many subplots relating to self-discovery and overcoming the challenges of life.^[1]

The novels were made into a highly successful series of movies between 2001 and 2011, further widening the series’ fanbase. Despite being largely book- and film-centred, the series maintains a large online presence, and has generated lots of fan art.

History

Books

The first book in the Harry Potter series, entitled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, was released on June 30, 1997. The first three books were published and released in the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury, and afterwards, the books were picked up for worldwide release by Scholastic Press in the US. The last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released on July 21, 2007. The series has received worldwide acclaim, and has been translated into 67 languages. In fact, the fandom was so eager for new releases that the last four books set records for being the fastest selling books ever.^[1]

Films

The series has also been adapted into a successful film series between 2001 and 2011. The final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was split into two films for length and content reasons. The film series has been very well received, and has grossed over $7.7 billion.^[2] With the release of the final film on July 15, 2011, the series officially “ended.”

Pottermore

Pottermore is a website created by J.K. Rowling for those wishing to stay connected to the Harry Potter universe after the end of the book and film series. Its content is similar to an alternate-reality game (ARG) and to an MMORPG, in that it features games and quests intended to enhance the experience of reading the books. Currently, it is in closed beta/early access, and its public release date is currently unknown.^[3]

Fandom

The Harry Potter series has garnered a large following of both children and adults, due to the books’ accessibility to both audiences. In an age of the increasing presence of computers and the internet, it has successfully introduced a generation to reading and has captured their imaginations. Due to the fans’ veracity, many bookstores held midnight releases for some of the later titles, and fans would line up for hours, often in costume, waiting for their copies.

Online

On the internet, the Harry Potter series is a commonly discussed topic, with many fan sites devoted to the series. Because it is largely book-based, it has required readers to use their imaginations when depicting the characters and settings, and is thus the subject of many pieces of fan art and music. It is also a common source of inspiration for fanfics, and Harry Potter remains one of the most common fanfic subjects today. The series is also popular on tumblr, where Harry Potter gifs appear very often.

Some characters from the series even have fan-created twitter accounts that have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers, most notably Lord Voldermort^[4] and Serverus Snape^[5].

Notable Derivatives

You’re a Wizard, Harry!

You’re a Wizard, Harry! is a phrase spoken to Harry Potter by Hagrid, the gamekeeper of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, informing him that he is, in fact, a wizard, something that Harry had been unaware of. Learning that he was a wizard completely changed Harry’s life; he went from being absolutely miserable to being joyful and excited overnight. Online, it is a catchphrase frequently used on forums to express a tone of extreme condescension, as if the poster is having to explain something very simple to someone very stupid.

Severus Snape

Severus Snape, played by Alan Rickman in the films, is the potions master of Hogwarts school, and is one of the main antagonists throughout the Harry Potter series. However, in the last book, he is revealed to be a tragic hero. His constantly acerbic attitude and wit, as well as the revelations in the last book, have made him a fan favourite, and Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the character in the film series only increased fan interest. He is frequently featured in fan art and fanfics.

Ten Points from Gryffindor

“Ten Points from Gryffindor” (or alternatively to Gryffindor) is a phrase commonly used in the series and online. In the books, the four houses of Hogwarts use a merit point system called House Points; points are added for good behaviour and are removed for poor behaviour. Snape was particularly fond of removing points from Gryffindor for questionable reasons, often because of personal grudge against Harry. Online, the phrase is used in a similar context; it is used in forums and on chan-style sites to comment on both good and bad behaviour, and is most often used facetiously to poke fun at fails.

Snape Kills Dumbledore

In the climax of the sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Snape (see above) kills Dumbledore, Harry’s mentor/guide and the headmaster of Hogwarts. The series’ massive following were highly emotionally invested in Dubledore’s character, and this event is commonly seen as one of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in literary history. As such, and given the trolling-prone nature of internet users, it has become a viral spoiler, spawning many GIFs and YTMNDs. It is also the frequent subject of fan reaction videos, often showing fans in tears after reading the scene.

Potter Puppet Pals

Potter Puppet Pals is a fansite started in 2006 by Flash animator Neil Cicierega, which features puppet versions of the characters from the Harry Potter universe in humorous or satirical situations. It became wildly popular on YouTube, generating many similar fan responses. By the end of 2011, the video Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise (above) had been viewed over 110 million times, making it one of YouTube’s most popular videos ever.

My Immortal / The Worst Fanfiction Ever

My Immortal is a fanfiction written in 2006 by fanfiction.net user Tara Gillesbie. It is commonly considered to be the worst fanfiction ever written due to its abysmal grammar, preposterous plot, and unexplained shipping and sex scenes. It gained further notoriety due to the large number of dramatic readings and parodies that have been created.

Search Interest

Search interest for Harry Potter has remained consistently high, spiking around the release dates of the books and films.

External Links

^[1] Wikipedia – Harry Potter

^[2] Wikipedia – Harry Potter

^[3] Wikipedia – Pottermore

^[4] Twitter – lord_voldermort7

^[5] Twitter – Snape