Potter-mania's dark side.Has the Harry Potter hoopla hoop·la n. Informal 1. a. Boisterous, jovial commotion or excitement. b. Extravagant publicity: The new sedan was introduced to the public with much hoopla. 2. helped popularize pop·u·lar·ize tr.v. pop·u·lar·ized, pop·u·lar·iz·ing, pop·u·lar·iz·es 1. To make popular: A famous dancer popularized the new hairstyle. 2. witchcraft? THE NEW AMERICAN, along with several Christian and conservative groups, has pointed out that Potter author J.K. Rowling saturates her children's fantasy books with occult imagery. Yet most people dismiss the idea that Potter is anything more than harmless entertainment. "At least it gets young people to read," they say. But Potter-mania seems to be having a darker effect than many have been willing to admit. Reporting for Reuters on June 19th, Pete Harrison writes that according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. experts: "Paganism and the ancient art of witchcraft are on the rise in Britain...." "Soaring Pagan numbers have churches worrying and calling for stricter controls on cult TV programs and films that celebrate sorcery sorcery: see incantation; magic; spell; witchcraft. Sorcery Sorrow (See GRIEF.) sorcerer’s apprentice finds a spell that makes objects do the cleanup work. [Fr. like 'Harry Potter,' 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch,'" continues Harrison. The Reuters report focused on the then-expected record-breaking attendance "at the mystical megaliths For the record label, see . A megalith is a large stone which has been used to construct a structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. Megalithic of Stonehenge, where Pagans have celebrated the summer solstice for thousands of years." Harrison quotes various experts about the surging interest in the occult, including the High Priest of British White British white a dairy and beef breed of cattle, polled, white with black points, produced in the UK by crossing Wild white and Swedish mountain breeds. Witches, Kevin Carlyon, who, of course, approves of how the Potter craze has helped spur that interest. Paraphrasing Carlyon, Harrison writes: "... 'Harry Potter' in recent years had continued that trend [toward paganism], helping create what he called 'the fastest growing belief system in the world.'" |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion