'Harry Potter and the Fantastic Journey'

Susan Napier TUFTS UNIVERSITY

It has been fourteen years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone burst upon the scene, starting a revolution in children's literature and ultimately in popular culture worldwide.  This lecture begins with a review of Harry Potter's place in the great tradition of English fantasy and will conclude with a discussion of the films, fan fiction, and the overall cultural impact and unique legacy of what might be called the "Harry Potter phenomenon."

Formerly Mitsubishi Professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Texas, Susan Napier is Professor of Japanese Studies at Tufts University where she also teaches courses on science fiction, film, and fantasy. She is the author of four books, the two most recent of which are on Japanese animation.  She is currently working on a book on Hayao Miyazaki, Japan's greatest fantasy animation director.