MuggleNet Academia (literature)
MuggleNet Academia Lesson 43: “Tris Transfigured: Allegiant meets Potter”

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike mystery detective series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss the recent cinematic release of the Divergent Series: Allegiant with special emphasis on the similarities and contrasts between Veronica Roth's written material and Lionsgate's cinematic journey. We also dive into the thematic similarities found within the Divergent and Potter series with psychological aspects from the different sorting structures. Our special guest on this lesson is our good friend Professor Louise Freeman of Mary Baldwin College in Virginia and our student guest is Hanako Ricks, who is a mega fan of both series as well as a podcast co-host for the Sci-Fi Party Line.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson43.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 12:49pm EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 42: "Pottermore’s Sorting Hat: The Dark Triad Dirty Dozen"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike mystery detective series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss the Pottermore Sorting Quiz by J.K. Rowling and what the resultant house assignment really tells about you and your personality. What does this sorting say to you about your relationship with the Harry Potter saga. Are you an extraverted Gryffindor; an agreeable Hufflepuff; a clever Ravenclaw; or a manipulative Slytherin? How does the 'Dark Triad Dirty Dozen' (narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psycopathy) tell us about your sorting? Does the study work for other fandoms such as Divergent Factions, Hunger Games Districts. And so much more.

Also joining the show is a Junior Psychology student from Mary Baldwin College, Sharanya Rao, who is an International student from India.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson42.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 8:20am EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 41: "Light Sabres and Wands"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike mystery detective series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss a Galaxy Far Far Away! An exciting discussion on the film and popular culture phenomenon, Star Wars: The Force Awakens and it's influences both from and to the Harry Potter series. We have two Harry Potter pundits who are also expert in the origins, artistry, and meaning of George Lucas’ Star Wars films. We welcome back Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, professor at Belmont and Lenoir-Rhyne Universities and Emily Strand, with whom we just spoke about Quidditch last month from Mount Carmel College of Nursing. Both have written on The Force Awakens and we’ve asked them to tell us what they can about the overlaps and mutual influences and influencing going on between these epic stories and worlds.

Also joining the show is MuggleNet Staff member and Florida State University Senior Shannen Michaelsen.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson41.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 4:34pm EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 40: "The Wizarding War was Won on the Quidditch Pitch of Hogwarts"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss the published essay from Harry Potter for Nerds Part II by author Emily Strand titled: "The Second War was Won on the Quidditch Pitch of Hogwarts: Quidditch as a Symbol Set in the Harry Potter Narrative." This discussion reveals the symbolic parallels between the player positions and the characters who act out these roles in the larger story. Additionally, we focus on the literary alchemy found within the Quidditch game itself and how this relates to the overall Hogwarts Saga plot twists and themes.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson40.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 1:58pm EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 39: "The Boy Who Lived, All Grown Up"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss a new course that is being held on the University of Maryland titled, "The Boy Who Lived, All Grown Up: Assessing the Harry Potter books and their Adaptations." The Terrapins in Prof. Markey Butler’s course explore the multi-leveled experiences in story adaptation and even propose a new adaptation of the <em>Harry Potter</em> series themselves, not just writing fan-fiction but imagining new categories of fan engagement and adaptation of the original story. Also joining the show is Terrapin student Meg Galuardi from Prof. Markey Butler's class.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson39_Full.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 12:26pm EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 38: "The Harry Potter Lexicon - Here and Back Again"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

In this lesson, we discuss The Harry Potter Lexicon, the ultimate resource of facts and information on the Harry Potter series, with the creator and owner Steve Vander Ark. The Lexicon will soon be re-launched with a whole new appearance designed to allow easier and friendlier navigation as well as be mobile friendly. Additionally, we discuss the lawsuit that took place in 2008 in New York City between RDR and JKR, which centered around the book form of the Lexicon.

Also joining the show is Kat Miller, the Creative and Marketing Director for MuggleNet and Host and Co-Creator of the Alohomora podcast.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson38.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 10:15am EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 37: “Harry Potter for Nerds Part II - Essays for Lit Geeks”

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter and Cormoran Strike series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today. We also dissect the Cormoran Strike series as the books are being released, helping readers understand and appreciate the writings of the modern-day Dickens, J.K. Rowling.

We continue to examine topics that are present within the NEW academic books that are focused on the literature of the Harry Potter series. Fresh off a fantastic discussion and release of the Ravenclaw Reader and Into the Pensieve, this lesson on MuggleNet Academia focuses on another collection of essays, Harry Potter for Nerds II as presented by Travis Prinzi and Professor Kathryn McDaniel.

In this lesson, the editors of Harry Potter for Nerds II, Prinzi and McDaniel, talk with Keith Hawk and John Granger about Lupin, Twins in Harry Potter, Quidditch, Gothic tropes, Reverse alchemy, Dumbledore’s mom, the White Rose Society, even another look at Squibs.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson_37.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 8:13am EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 36: "Violence Against Women Harry Potter"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter series.

We look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today.

We continue to examine topics that are present within the NEW academic books that are focused on the literature of the Harry Potter series. Fresh off a fantastic discussion and release of the Ravenclaw Reader, this lesson on MuggleNet Academia focuses on Chapter 11 from Professor Patrick McCauley's new book Into the Pensieve.

In this lesson, we discuss a key topic and theme that is prevalent throughout the Harry Potter series but has been overlooked in the past...Violence Against the female characters and their repercussions in the magical world. Joining Professor Patrick McCauley on this show is MuggleNet Creative Team Staff Members, Amy Hogan and Lizzie Sudlow.

In this lesson we discuss:

  • Why did J.K. Rowling name her first daughter, Jessica, after Jessica Mitford, a known communist and fascist supporter and author of Hons and Rebels?
  • Rowling's skill of writing to the level of her reader's ages throughout the series.
  • What really happened to the female characters like Katie Bell, Ariana Dumbledore, Lily Potter, Dolores Umbridge, and even Helena Ravenclaw.
  • AND SO MUCH MORE!

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson_36.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 9:21am EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 35: "Ravenclaw Reader – Academia from St. Andrews"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter series.

Host Keith Hawk and co-host John Granger, the Hogwarts Professor, look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today.

In this lesson, we discuss the St. Andrews Harry Potter Literature Conference that took place in May of 2012 and the resultant book that is now available for order, Ravenclaw Reader. Ravenclaw Reader features dynamic analysis of the text of Potter from Potter Pundits around the world. Each essay within the book is followed by a peer rebuttal from another pundit. 

This lesson features the two literary professors that not only put the conference together, but were also the key editors for Ravenclaw Reader. Professor John Patrick Pazdziora, who is the Associate Professor of Foreign Languages and Literature at the College of Liberal Arts, Shantou University, in the People's Republic of China. And Father Micah Snell teaches writing and Great Books in the Honors College at Houston Baptist University. Also joining us is Professor Joshua Richards who is an Assistant Professor of English at Williams Baptist College and who presented a masterful piece on why Severus Snape is Harry's Father Figure within the stories.

Get your copy of the Ravenclaw Reader today, available on Amazon (http://www.amazon.com/Ravenclaw-Reader-Artistry-University-Conference/dp/0990882101?tag=mugglenet00-20)

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson_35.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 8:51am EDT

MuggleNet Academia Lesson 34: "Magick Moste Evile - Harry and the Horrible Horcruxes"

MuggleNet Academia is a comprehensive insight into the literary thematic elements and scholastic endeavors that author J.K. Rowling has provided in her writings of the Harry Potter series.

Host Keith Hawk and co-host John Granger, the Hogwarts Professor, look through the entire Harry Potter series for various elements in alchemy, literary components, composition attributes, as well as available classes at Universities and Colleges around the world, and various unique studies that are being implemented today.

In this lesson, we analyze the time line of Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes and Harry's decision to hunt for them versus tackling the task of collecting Hallows. Our discussion is based on a recent piece written by our Guest Professor from Houston Community College, Professor Wayne Stauffer, which you can view on both the MuggleNet website as well as the Hogwarts Professor website. Also joining our show is our student guest, who so happens to also be a college professor in New Hampshire, proud Slytherin Professor Selina Marcille.

We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for listening.

Direct download: Lesson34.mp3
Category:Literature -- posted at: 1:59pm EDT