Harry Potter in Pop Culture

Saw an entry in TV Guide magazine today that was discussing one of the main characters in the show Damages. It said "Finally we meet the man who helped mold Patty into the terrifying legal Voldemort that she is today!"

Now, I've never seen Damages, but I have a clear picture in my mind of what this Patty person is like. LOL. Isn't it funny how references can cross so many cultural bridges?

This isn't exactly popular culture, and I'm sure it predates Harry Potter, but I winced when I saw a road sign today that read, "Welcome to Simcoe County. For the greater good."

This is not exactly "HP" in pop culture, but close enough... anyway, I thought it might be of interest...


J.K. Rowling uncovers French roots in TV show

Aug 1, 7:02 PM (ET)

LONDON (AP) - For years, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and her family had honored a French ancestor who they believed was a World War I war hero.

But the best-selling author has now discovered that her family had been mistaken about the true identity of her great-grandfather.

Rowling, 46, has recorded a television program with the BBC that shows her coming to terms with the revelation that her family had confused Louis Volant, a war hero awarded with the Legion d'honneur for his bravery during the Battle of Verdun, with her real great-grandfather, who had the same name and also fought for France.

Rowling told the BBC magazine show Radio Times that the experience was an upsetting and emotional one. She said taking part in her genealogy research made her so emotional that she cried several times.

"There were a lot of big surprises, some wonderful, and one rather upsetting," she said in an interview.

"However, I went into the program wanting the truth, no matter what it was, because I knew so little about my French ancestry, and I don't regret a moment of it. I loved the whole experience," she added.

When Rowling was awarded the Legion d'honneur for her services to literature in 2009, she described her pride being the second winner of the honor in the family, and how her accomplishments could not compare to the bravery of her ancestor and men like him.

She said that she has undertook the project because her mother Anne Volant, who died in 1990, was very interested in her French roots but never got the chance to explore them.

"A huge motivation in looking into my family history is my mother. It's very much bound up in that loss," she said.

The BBC show, called "Who Do You Think You Are?" will be broadcast later this month.

Here's another interesting JKR article, which I found as a result of poking around on a link Soli had posted, so thanks to Soli! I hadn't heard this -- it was news to me, although apparently it happened last month. I dunno... I am just getting more and more soured on her. I know she says it was not done without good reason, but geez... he's the only one who would take a chance on her initially! It just seems to me like she's awfully quick to turn on people who have helped her in the past, and the blame always lies with them, according to her. I know she has deep-rooted insecurities, but, well... she seems a bit of a diva to me, which is a real shame if it's so. Anyway here's the article from bbc.co.uk (no author was listed so I can't credit.) :


JK Rowling Splits With Book Agent Christopher Little

Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has parted company with her longtime literary agent Christopher Little, it has been announced.

The millionaire author has worked with Mr Little since he found a publisher for her first novel Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in 1996.

Rowling said it had been a "painful decision" but "was not taken without good reason".

Her books have sold more than 400 million copies worldwide.

"This was a painful decision, especially as Ms Rowling had actively sought a different outcome for some weeks," said a statement issued on her behalf.

"However, it was not taken without good reason and it finally became unavoidable."

A spokesman for Mr Little confirmed the news and said that the agent was "surprised" and "disappointed" at the decision.

"Christopher Little has worked closely with J K Rowling as her agent since the very beginning 16 years ago.

"He greatly admires her and her extraordinary talent and is proud to have played his role throughout this journey.

"However he is disappointed and surprised to have heard the premature news about the proposed new arrangements."

Last month, Rowling launched a new website Pottermore that would feature previously unpublished Harry Potter material as a "give-back" to her fans.

"Some of it is new stuff in response to things fans have asked me over the years," she told the BBC.

The website, which launches in October, includes an online store where fans can buy Potter e-books for the first time.

I wonder if this split between JKR and her first publisher is related to 1) the sale of the HP series as e-books, or 2) the release of new HP info on-line rather than in print....? Just speculation on my part....

An interesting question, Freshwater. A lot of us would love to see Hogwarts: A History in print. If all of the PM information is what would have made up such a book, he might be understandably miffed at losing it. Then again, perhaps it is something connected with the way the digital books are being marketed. Hard to say ..

Not sure if this is the right place to post, but if you haven't seen this site, it has some fun time-wasting HP related quizes

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A good site when you have some time to kill

HCo85, thanks for the link! Now, if you've got some time to kill, you could always mosey on over to the Potty Games thread and take the current quiz called [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] The winner gets to create the next quiz, and it can be as short or as long as you want it to be!

EDIT: Just saw your quiz, HCo85! Thanks!

This seemed like the best place to post this.

For those of you who plan to buy the Deathly Hallows DVD when it comes out later this year, don't delay, buy it as soon as it hits the shelves, because according to [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] from the Guardian, they won't be there for long.

Oh, good grief! This is going to encourage pirating of the movies. And that's such a short time for them to be available!

I got a notice from WB this morning and they have all their HP DVD's on for $4.25 each and that includes DH part 1. Time to stock up!

I wasn't really sure where to post this, but this seemed as good a place as any.

While following the trail of a completed unrelated story online, I stumbled across the following story:

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It is a delightful local newspaper story about Evanna Lynch, from 3 years before she auditioned for the role of Luna Lovegood. How many other cast members can lay claim to being such devoted fans of Harry Potter that they were featured in their local newspapers for their fandom not their fame? I thought it was a lovely story. Imagine how that 11 year old girl would feel, reading about Luna Lovegood for the first time, if someone had said to her, "you're going to play that part in the movies". It must have seemed as likely as an owl turning up with a letter from Hogwarts. For her, the magic was real.

What a wonderful story! And how lucky, Verity, that you accidently found it and were able to share it with us!

How cool is that and look at how cute she is!

Good story, but now I want to know why she was in the hospital. Curious minds want to know! I hope it was nothing serious.

Sure thing, Verity. I'm thinking 2 things about this list: 1) I don't like the space between each line and am going to insert a hyphen in front instead and remove the line break, and 2) I think 's could have been better!

EDIT: Done, and 3) I guess James Potter didn't teach the author of this list much. Even Wormtail made the list! Poor James.

I love that - thanks so much for sharing it with us. I do think that Dumbledore deserves much better than the comment he got. I just adore that man. [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Saw this in the paper the other day  - a new set of books to collect!

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J.K. Rowling is pleased to announce that she is collaborating with the award-winning theatre producers Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender on a new stage play to be based on the Harry Potter stories.

What was it like to be the boy in the cupboard under the stairs? This brand new play, which will be developed for the UK theatre, will explore the previously untold story of Harry's early years as an orphan and outcast. Featuring some of our favourite characters from the Harry Potter books, this new work will offer a unique insight into the heart and mind of the now legendary young wizard. A seemingly ordinary boy, but one for whom Destiny has plans...

J.K. Rowling will also be a co-producer on the project, but whilst she will collaborate with a writer on the new play, she will not write the script herself.

J.K. Rowling said:

"Over the years I have received countless approaches about turning Harry Potter into a theatrical production, but Sonia and Colin’s vision was the only one that really made sense to me, and which had the sensitivity, intensity and intimacy I thought appropriate for bringing Harry's story to the stage. After a year in gestation it is exciting to see this project moving on to the next phase. I’d like to thank Warner Bros. for their continuing support in this project."

Writers and directors are now being considered, and the project will move into development in 2014.