Two speakers addressed the relevance of Harry Potter beyond the series' significance in books and entertainment during last night's Experimental College Spring Colloquium, "Why Take Harry Potter Seriously?"
Shawn Klein (LA '95), author of "Harry Potter and Philosophy," and Andrew Slack, president of the nationally recognized Harry Potter Alliance, spoke about the wider implications and interpretations of J.K. Rowling's series, urging the audience to take examples from Harry Potter in promoting love over hate and eliminating complacency.
The event, which took place in Barnum Hall, was co-sponsored by the Experimental College and the Tufts Harry Potter Society.
"We wanted to pick a topic that was going to be relatable and lighthearted," Ex College Program Director Rachel Barbarisi said, "but we also wanted to pick a topic that ... could also be worthy of university examination and analysis."
Freshman Molly Newman, president of the Tufts Harry Potter Society, said Harry Potter's message ran deeper than many people thought. "A lot of people view Harry Potter as a kids' series and ... a passing fad [but] it has a lot more significance and importance," she said.
"There's more beneath this topic than meets the eye," Barbarisi added.
Klein attributes Harry Potter's success to its appealing storyline and its "range of characters that are interesting and fun."
"There is much more to the magic of the Harry Potter appeal," Klein continued. "Part of the appeal of Harry Potter is ... it is a story about moral philosophy, it's a story about good and evil."
Klein explained that there are "two fundamental parts of the human condition: the importance of one's choices and the inevitability of one's mortality." According to Klein, the Harry Potter series follows different characters as they struggle with growth and life choices.
He highlighted the parallels between characters Harry and Voldemort as illustrating the relationship between good and evil. "When we fail to be moral, even in little ways, we cause harm to ourselves and those around us," Klein said.
While Harry chooses a path of good, Voldemort "chooses to vent his frustration and anger ... onto others," Klein said. "It is the stark comparison ... that fascinated me.
"Deaths permeate these books," Klein said. "Voldemort's goal is immortality ... he gives up his humanity."
Klein explained that one must accept mortality in order to embrace life and the choices and actions that life requires. With the realization of mortality, people are equipped to act righteously and pursue love because they can only live life once.
"The rejection of mortality and love go hand in hand," Klein said. "The refusal to recognize one's mortalities means one's refusing to accept his human nature ... rejecting reality of life means rejecting love," he added.
Harry Potter's acceptance of the human condition and mortality allow him to act courageously against evil, and he ultimately matures. He "achieved ... the complete individuation of himself," according to Klein.
Finally, Klein described Rowling's books as telling a story that discusses the "importance of coming to terms with one's own mortality," and one that will remain as a classic because it speaks to the essential components of the human condition.
Andrew Slack spoke after Klein, addressing the applicability of Harry Potter to contemporary social issues and challenges. He is president of the Harry Potter Alliance, an organization that has been recognized in many publications, including the Los Angeles Times and the book "Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond" by Don Cheadle and John Prendergast.
In his talk, Slack introduced the term "Muggle mindset," referring to the series' term for non-magical characters, which he explained as a frame of mind that considers "conventionality as the highest aspiration." Examples from Harry Potter include both Muggles like the Dursleys as well as Cornelius Fudge and Dolores Umbridge, who follow a "set of arbitrary standards" that foster normalcy and complacency.
"We want to get away from this Muggle mindset," said Slack, explaining that that type of environment is conducive to evil and danger.
Slack drew parallels between the contemporary world and Harry Potter's world. Both, he said, are going through dark and difficult times "where we need to make a choice between what is right and what is easy."
He attributes the Harry Potter series, the most popular fictional books in history, with reintroducing ideas that can help people break the Muggle mindset. "What if we were to utilize those numbers and that message and put it into the world?" Slack asked.
Slack seeks to translate Dumbledore's Army into real action and results in the world. "Dumbledore's Army woke the world up to Voldemort's return, and they're students," Slack added, emphasizing the power of students to speak up.
"There are a million things the world needs to be woken up to now," Slack said, citing the genocide in Darfur as one.
Slack works with the Harry Potter Alliance and other networks connecting Potter fans, including MySpace.com sites for wizard rock bands like Harry and the Potters and other Web sites like MuggleNet.com to increase awareness about social issues and mobilize people.
The extensive network he has built raised over $6,000 to protect women in Darfur who are forced to leave refugee camps to gather firewood.
In his talk, Slack constantly drew parallels between Harry Potter and the world today, mentioning the Triwizard Tournament and the upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics. "We're about to start pressuring every company that supports the Olympics" to speak up about Darfur.
He explained that both tournaments are built on international cooperation and instead of boycotting the Olympics, he seeks to use the games as an opportunity to pressure China into intervening in Darfur.
"J.K. Rowling has given us a way out through a modern myth that brings us together," he said. "What if we could take that, and harness and do something with it?"
