The Legacy of Harry Potter
The new Potter book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released on June 21 2003.
As Harry sets to weave his magic some parents worldwide are canvassing for the Harry Potter books to be banned from school libraries. Some others say that Harry and his friends develop courage, loyalty, and a willingness to sacrifice for one another-even at the risk of their lives. Not bad lessons in a self-centred world.
And so, the Harry Potter epic continues to gather speed, with the third film expected later this year. But, what's in it for mature people? Should these books be banned for any specific age groups? Do mature adults enjoy reading this kind of science fiction? Are they detrimental to children? Are people getting too worked up over books based in the imagination?
Catholic church stands up for Harry Potter
Staff and agencies, Tuesday February 4, 2003 The Guardian
A Vatican spokesman has defended the Harry Potter books and films, saying they are consistent with Christian morals. The Rev Peter Fleetwood, a member of the Vatican's council for culture, speaking at the launch of a document on the impact of "new age" spiritual beliefs to the Catholic faith, stated that the Harry Potter books fall into the same category.
I don't see any, problems in the Harry Potter series. Their message of the good versus evil is consistent with Christian morality. I don't think there's anyone in this room who grew up without fairies, magic and angels in their imaginary world. They aren't bad. They aren't serving as a banner for an anti-Christian ideology. If I have understood well the intentions of Harry Potter's author, they help children to see the difference between good and evil. And she is very clear on this.
JK Rowling is Christian by conviction, is Christian in her mode of living, even in her way of writing
Opinion Round-up ....
- Harry Potter is just the beginning, says one grandparent:
There are so many fantastic worlds and characters within fantasy and science fiction. You will always have something new to read. Have a sense of humour ... Take a look at all this great stuff .... You will almost never be bored, says one grandparent ... !
- Baroness Blackstone, Arts Minister, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK, says:
We are all looking at the future through a new lens. It is literature that addresses the social issues: self-worth. http://www.nnah.org.uk/articles/8111.htm
- John Maynard Keynes first chairperson of the Cheltenham Literature Festival, UK, adds:
The artist walks where the breath of the spirit blows him. He cannot be told his direction; he does not know it himself. But he leads the rest of us into fresh pastures and teaches us to love and to enjoy what we often begin by rejecting, enlarging our sensibility and purifying our instincts http://www.nnah.org.uk/articles/8111.htm
- Barker College, Sydney, NSW, has instituted Reading Circles in which students participate and develop a reading habit. The aim of the reading circles is
- To assist in the development of a structured Wide Reading Scheme.
- To promote reading for enjoyment.
- To enable readers to have an ongoing exchange of ideas whilst reading a text.
- To set time frames for reading sections and for completion of reading a text.
- To have students promote texts that are enjoyable to other literature circles.
- To provide a less academic, more relaxed group interchange for reading and discussion of literature.
- Reading circles provide students with opportunities for purposeful language experiences in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
25 june 2003
