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MAY 25, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Posted by CHEESER
Source: HPANA
Students at Lawrence University
in Appleton, Wisconsin, will be able to enroll in a course titled "Thinking about Harry Potter" during their fall term next year.
The course's instructor, Edmund M. Kern, is the author of The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us About Moral Choices
"Today's college students are like no others in history," said Kern. "They had the chance to grow up right along with Harry Potter. I'd be foolish to pass up the teaching opportunities that those circumstances offer me."
Following closely upon the publication of the finale of JK Rowling's series, the course will be interdisciplinary in nature and focus upon Harry not only as a literary phenomenon but as the biggest pop-cultural event of the era. It will explore Rowling's stories in terms of their relation to history, legend, and myth, take up debates about their contested aesthetic merit and ethical values, and take stock of their broader social and political implications.
Enrollment in the course will be by consent of the instructor only.
"I had to find a way to keep things manageable and in line with the small class sizes typical of Lawrence courses," said Kern. For this reason, only students who have already mastered all seven books of the Harry Potter series will participate.
Kern has never demanded over four thousand pages of text as a prerequisite for a course before, and he can't imagine other circumstances that would allow him to do so again. "I'm not going to assign Rowling's books. I'm simply going to assume that my students have a copious knowledge of them," he said.
Interested students will have to write brief explanations of why they should be in the course. Kern hopes this requirement will allow students to "select themselves," but he is afraid that he might have to turn some students away. The course will involve serious scholarship, but Kern insisted it will also be fun. "I want to make sure I end up with the most dedicated fans of Harry Potter," he adds.
In keeping with the academic demands of the course, students will complete short research projects of their own design. "We might get a book of essays out of all this," Kern offered, "but ultimately, I just want my students to apply the skills they have developed in a wide variety of college courses to something that they've enjoyed, witnessed, and really been a part of.
A member of Lawrence's Department of History, Kern first heard about Harry Potter from his students. "Back in '98 or '99, they began to ask me about the books, because I teach a course on the history of religion, magic, and witchcraft. Little did I know then, how things would turn out."
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Lips of an Angel
Points: 26390
3.1415926535 says:
Errrmmm.... ok i find that just weird... do they have to pay? i would certainly not pay to 'think about harry potter' but thats just me...
Posted May 26, 2007 at 3:42 AM EST
Weaselette
Points: 3182
WickedLoz says:
*Clears throat*
I hope La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia is reading this..
Posted May 26, 2007 at 3:50 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1759
JasmineBlack says:
That's a great idea! My uni offers a history course entitled Witchcraft, Superstition and Magic in Europe... it would be great to include some HP in that, but I doubt they will :(
Posted May 26, 2007 at 6:38 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1862
Bright Eyes says:
That is sheer brilliance haha. "I majored in Harry Potter". How good would that be?
Posted May 26, 2007 at 7:18 AM EST
Chief Brain Washer
Points: 2875
Chogiiiirl says:
This is fabulous! How I would have LOVED to be offered such a course during my college years. This sounds like even more fun and learning filled than my "History of Rock and Roll" elective I took during grad school! I hope someone on HPANA takes the course, so we can all get a little more information.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 8:33 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2142
Red and Black says:
I can feel a religion coming on...
Posted May 26, 2007 at 9:32 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1655
Emerika says:
hahaha!! The Professor looks like Dudley!
That would most definitely be MY favorite class!
Posted May 26, 2007 at 9:45 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 378
potterhottie89 says:
I would totally be the first one in line to sign up for this course...wish they offered something like this at mizzou.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 10:21 AM EST
Charms Mistress
(Moderator)
Points: 5162
Weesa says:
Sounds good almost makes me want to go to back to college.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 10:31 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1218
Tiame says:
It certainly sounds interesting.... mostly everything in the Harry Potter books is metaphorical, so it would be an interesting study..... but yes, it would be weird.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 10:35 AM EST
Squib
Points: 186
NewMoon27 says:
That is so cool! A class about Harry Potter.
Wow I would definately take it if I had the chance to. He said it would be a difficult class, but I think that I could handle it.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 10:53 AM EST
Heir of Slytherin
Points: 5499
Spazzingduck says:
That would be AMAZING! I would totally sign up for that course. And, might I say it, I would probably get in as well...
Posted May 26, 2007 at 11:45 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1867
Silver_Lining says:
Oh my god, hands up if you want to enroll! *raises hand*
Posted May 26, 2007 at 12:39 PM EST
Witch
Points: 536
-Rebellion- says:
Oh my god! That would be amazing to have a course in Hp!!
I would be my favorite class! I would probably end up even more obsessed with hp!
Posted May 26, 2007 at 2:04 PM EST
Student
Points: 297
Hermione_Harry_Luna says:
Wow that's so cool!! I wish I could discuss Harry Potter in school!
Posted May 26, 2007 at 4:06 PM EST
Witch
Points: 829
HPMommy says:
This is very interesting, I would love to be able to delve a little deeper in a classroom setting and learn all the intricaces of the story, the history and what not. It sounds like a really great class. Maybe it will catch on at more colleges and there will be a class closer to me.
Posted May 26, 2007 at 8:01 PM EST
I Am Queen of My Castle
Points: 3673
Hecate3fold says:
It's about time. I was wondering how long it was going to take for something like this to manifest.
The possibilities of what a class like this could entail is phenominal.
Blessings! Hecate3fold!
Posted May 26, 2007 at 8:30 PM EST
Kathe Mera Kalimera
Points: 7720
dominor says:
"Thinking about Harry Potter" ! Now thats a class i would ACE with no prob at all!! Haha i wish something like that was around here! NV.ME.4.IM.A.QT would ace it as well.. Hmm i would jinx you all the time..
Posted May 26, 2007 at 8:34 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1229
sapphire260 says:
I would LOVE to take that class, but unfortunatly my next educational stop is tenth grade....
Posted May 26, 2007 at 11:36 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2860
mad_eye muggle says:
WoW!Thats itresting!Imagine a course about our favorite wizard.Man.....I wish I could take that course.Too bad we don't have that on our country.HP RULES!
Posted May 26, 2007 at 11:55 PM EST
Antipodean Snow Goddess
Points: 3070
Tikihaha says:
Imagine that - getting a scholarship to go study Harry Potter at university... that would be my ideal course! I'd also get HD's (well, I'd like to think so!).
Posted May 27, 2007 at 5:46 AM EST
Lips of an Angel
Points: 26390
3.1415926535 says:
Well of course i would ace it dominor! i ace everything! HAHAH NOT! i got a B for my english oral... a B I TELL YOU! But i wouldnt even take it... its a waste of money.. dont you reckon?
Posted May 27, 2007 at 7:02 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1899
Incognito says:
I would love to try that course! It's like waking up every day and going to school to learn harry potter, great!
Posted May 27, 2007 at 11:09 AM EST
Prof. Alfred W. Mandoore
Points: 2445
JAYSTARR says:
I feel writing about Harry Potter, writing to add your view of Harry Potter is all good...BUT, to have a course that you may have to pay about Harry Potter is OUTRAGES, and should not be!
Posted May 27, 2007 at 1:23 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1675
lissir10 says:
Wow that's really interesting... a course on studying Harry Potter... wow.. haha
Posted May 27, 2007 at 1:32 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1451
leeanne<3ron says:
Oh my gosh ! wow.. a harry potter course.. I know what i want to take when i get to college instaed of maths or something...That is soo cool !
Posted May 27, 2007 at 4:24 PM EST
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