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Health & Fitness

How Harry Potter has shaped my generation

Harry and his friends have done a lot to help us all grow up.

Harry Potter has been a worldwide phenomenon since J.K. Rowling first published Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997. For my generation in particular, the books and movies have been there as we grew up, and they have had a profound impact on how we view the world.

For example, the current rise in interest in magic and witchcraft can be linked to Harry’s popularity. (Of course, the Christian viewpoint that it is the work of Satan polluting young, impressionable minds can be traced back to the same thing). Series like Twilight, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and City of Bones have gained popularity riding Jo’s coattails—and Twilight author Stephenie Meyer has even been referred to as the next J.K. Rowling.            

This semester, I was lucky enough to get to do a project on Harry Potter with the goal of presenting at the upcoming Anthropology Expo at Cosumnes River College. I studied first generation fans of Harry Potter to see just how he’s changed us. By first generation, I mean those of us who were there at the book releases, devouring the latest book so we could talk about it with our friends the next day. We’re the ones who grew up alongside Harry and are still waiting for our owls to let us know we’ve been accepted to Hogwarts. We’re the ones who go to conventions and listen to Wrock (Wizard Rock) and wish we could actually play Quidditch.

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To get some information straight from the Hippogriff’s mouth, as it were, I sent an online survey around to ask how people felt Harry changed them, for better or worse. The results were pretty clear: Harry and his friends have done a lot to help us all grow up.           

Some of the things I learned include that the idea of a “Global Village” has taken on real meaning for us through Harry. A Global Village refers to technology’s ability to bring people from all walks of life and all around the world together by making it easier to communicate and share ideas. We have new friends from all over the world based on our mutual love of the Boy Who Lived—some have even gotten married to people they met only because of Harry Potter. It all came about because the internet gave us a way to meet and discuss our common interests.

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We also have a better understanding of politics and the media based on how the Ministry of Magic and the Daily Prophet handle He Who Must Not Be Named’s return.

This just barely scratches the surface of what Harry means to our generation. If you want to learn more, please come to the Anthropology Expo Friday, October 28 at Cosumnes River College. Not only will you be able to hear more about Harry, you can also learn about Native American boat-making techniques, conservation of orangutans in Borneo, and archaeology in our backyard (Old Sacramento), as well as see a film about the loss of knowledge due to progress.

The Anthropology Expo runs from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Recital Hall and Learning Resource Center at Cosumnes River College, 8401 Center Parkway in Sacramento. Click here for details.

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