The most prestigious law school admissions discussion board in the world.
|
 |
 
|
How did Harry Potter become so big
Poast new message in this thread
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:03 PM Author: Big therapy It was just some fantasy book written by a then-unknown author Seems arbitrary that rowling got noticed |
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:04 PM Author: Blue ticket booth "Engorgio!" (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490674) |
 |
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:51 PM Author: Saffron Self-absorbed Factory Reset Button Address (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491029) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 4:49 AM Author: abusive drab filthpig (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503654) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 8:01 AM Author: fluffy dull affirmative action (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503773) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:14 PM Author: Big therapy (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490741) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:15 PM Author: concupiscible azure stag film roast beef Tapped that sweet spot between children's fiction and young adult (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490754) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:19 PM Author: Big therapy but how did Harry Potter become so exceptionally bigger than everything else in that genre (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490784) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:25 PM Author: Arousing Lemon Laser Beams Theater -Better books. I enjoyed HP far more than other YA books growing up, and it doesn't have the glaring flaws of schlock like Twilight or 50 Shades or w/e -Detailed world with a lot of lore which invites fanatical fandom -Nifty concept that makes it easy to get into -Momentum: Once it got pretty big it became really easy to boom up to extreme popularity |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:25 PM Author: Sick library love of her life It drew a bigger adult fanbase than say, lemony snickerdoodle or whatever. But there are a million of these terrible YA series and Hunger Games, etc are also pretty popular. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490833) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:16 PM Author: splenetic piazza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490758) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 1:11 PM Author: Galvanic Plum Whorehouse Cr (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475079) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:21 PM Author: maize histrionic field clown He was like 8 in the first movie u tard did you think he was gonna shrink (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490805) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:10 PM Author: wine brunch double fault (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491180) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 2:57 PM Author: hairless chapel (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475550) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:39 PM Author: carmine bossy den party of the first part (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36476029) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:22 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm It's a boarding school novel masquerading as fantasy, and the books got progressively and noticeably better in terms of writing style.
Her characters, while tropes, were relatable and she played with universal themes (family, sacrifice, redemption, self-determination).
It's so popular precisely because it's not a technical example of some fantastic piece of literature, even by YA standards. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:24 PM Author: Big therapy don’t think this alone justifies it becoming as massively popular as it’s become, though maybe this was enough to get it started and the publishers and studios saw a business opportunity from there (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490825) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:33 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm Popularity can be random, especially of novels. But the world was unique and easy to understand, and everyone who has ever been in school can relate to it. I remember in law school people were talking about how there's always a class gunner (Hermione) and a class celebrity (Harry) and some douchebags from rich families who got legacy AA (Malfoys) and a hot, foreign chick (Cho) and a hot sporty chick (Ginny).
It was clichéd enough to be relatable, but not so clichéd as to be "on the nose". And it wasn't predictable, nor did it rely too heavily on uber-predictable, overused, schlocky tropes. |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 8:01 AM Author: fluffy dull affirmative action (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503775) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 12:59 PM Author: topaz disturbing friendly grandma university Pretty much CR (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30505297) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:33 PM Author: Big therapy but you’re probably right that it tapped into the mind of english prep-schoolers ogling at oxford and cambridge (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490897) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:23 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale Women. For some reason these stories really hit nerve with women. I've never know a man being really into Harry Potter. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490816) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:25 PM Author: Arousing Lemon Laser Beams Theater Its bigger with girls but there are a shitload of male Potter fans. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490838) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:26 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale There are also males who are going to vote for Hillary. Same general principle and I stand by my statement. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490847) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:34 PM Author: concupiscible azure stag film roast beef From what I hear the plot and narrative grows quite complex and labyrinthine in later books, so I can see how it appeals to young males with a geeky streak. It's like a wholesome Game of Thrones. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490902) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:41 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale My Wife loves these movies so I've seen every one. The entire series hinges on Harry being so naturally-born "special" that he's able to conquer all evil without much effort. Also, Harry's being so naturally-born "special" means that everyone, from his friends to school admin to his enemies, treat him differently. You don't think that this, at most levels, speaks to how women see the world? It's basically a princess story using an a-sexual British schoolboy. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490952) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:51 PM Author: Blue ticket booth I think you're going a little bit off the redpill deep end with that theory. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491023) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:52 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale Yes. I absolutely am. But I hate these movies and I've had to tolerate them on my TV for years. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491032) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:53 PM Author: Blue ticket booth lol (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491041) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:52 PM Author: Thirsty Indian Lodge Goal In Life good analysis. very similar to that grey vagina story (ant think of name) and twilight (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491035) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:52 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale ty (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491036) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:58 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm That whole part of Harry's characterization was meant to show that his "gift" was also a curse. It's the whole "with great power comes great responsibility" theme, and I don't really see how women come into it at all.
Yes, he's treated differently because he was the Boy Who Lived and is subject of some Apocalypse Prophecy, but one of the major themes of the narrative is that how it's your choices and not your heritage that defines the person you'll become.
Harry is ultimately well-liked by his peers (including the Malfoys) because he's a decent, humble, grateful kid who sees his power as more of a burden than an advantage. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:58 PM Author: Lime curious bawdyhouse I think there's a lot here that's on point, but I also think these kinds of stories appeal to men as well. the trope of the mysterious hero with the unknown past, wherein he has some magical/fantastic/hidden powers that come out eventually. It appeals to people who want to believe they are inherently special in some way that may not have manifested itself yet (particularly at a young age) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491083) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:59 PM Author: Blue ticket booth Yeah, it shares a lot in common with Star Wars on that front. Except Harry's dad isn't Space Voldemort. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491097) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:03 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm "It appeals to people who want to believe they are inherently special in some way that may not have manifested itself yet (particularly at a young age)."
This.
Also, the story also implements the idea that there's this fantastical world right around the corners of our world. Like if we go into the closet far enough, we'll end up in Narnia. All kids (and kids at heart) like to believe that there's some sort of magic in this world that we cannot see. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:05 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale I still believe that, if I get a new haircut and put on my favorite going out shirt, I can still get easily laid if I went to Big John's Tavern on Thursday for karaoke night. It fills my heart with joy to think of this. SO, I agree with you. I'm still a kid at heart. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491141) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:07 PM Author: Irradiated elastic band forum From the portions of the movies I have seen, this perfectly encapsulates the appeal to females. There is not a single aspect of Harry that makes him unrelatable to female.
LOL at the thought of Potter not jacking off five times a day to Emma Watson. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:08 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale lol yea man, just wearing his little British weenie out on a daily basis (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491164) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:15 PM Author: Irradiated elastic band forum And LOL at Potter not constantly clowning on the red headed ogre looking fucker. The dynamic between the ogre kid, Emma, and Potter was more unbelievable than the wizardry shit. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491228) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:16 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale Girls love the idea of everyone getting along and harmless men who never tie their endless service to sex. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491236) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:50 PM Author: Blue ticket booth Yeah, it gets pretty complicated. Both my daughter and son like the movies, but only my daughter really liked the books (but that's more because my son is 4 and the books don't have pictures and shit). (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491019) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:54 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm Yeah, this. The worldbuilding in later novels is fantastic, as is the characterization of all sorts of minor players.
I wouldn't call it a wholesome GOT as GOT is much more of a novel of political intrigue. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:28 PM Author: Blue ticket booth I have not noticed that. That said, besides myself, the other male adult Harry Pottermo I can think of is also a huge Hillary supporter, so there's that. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490858) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:31 PM Author: beady-eyed clear locale Odd Hillary - Potter connection in males. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490886) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:35 PM Author: henna athletic conference pisswyrm Because initially a lot of women read these books to their kids.
Also I think women just like (or admit to like) fiction more, and are more willing to see it as OK to pick up YA fiction or other brainless fiction. Doods I know are all like "NAH I HAVE TO READ JOHN ADAMS" when faced with a 10-hour long haul flight in economy class. |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:36 PM Author: Big therapy *poasting in 20+ poast subthred* (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490919) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:37 PM Author: Big therapy I very much enjoy fiction but I don’t enjoy mindless fiction. I avoid it not because I don’t want to be seen with it. I avoid it because I don’t like it. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490924) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:27 PM Author: cerise striped hyena crackhouse global capitalism thought it was a good idea to familiarize 21st century children with the idea that they need to uproot themselves from their homes and families to go and live in a faraway land (and receive "training" ljl) if they want to survive. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490851) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:30 PM Author: splenetic piazza (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490874) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 4:51 AM Author: abusive drab filthpig (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503657) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 8:02 AM Author: fluffy dull affirmative action (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503776) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 8:03 AM Author: Cordovan Unholy Space Candlestick Maker (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503778) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 2:56 PM Author: Violent ungodly blood rage business firm (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475544) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:09 PM Author: transparent state (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475902) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 3:40 PM Author: Boyish Cruise Ship Regret grew older, and looks like he started lifting weights around the last one (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30490944) |
|
Date: May 16th, 2016 4:15 PM Author: Thirsty Indian Lodge Goal In Life i chuckled (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30491231) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 4:58 AM Author: Tantric flirting parlor i hate harry potter and pokemon. same stupid children that are into all this garbage. i was into terminator, batman, robocop, conan, aliens and rewatching those movies as an adult, they are still hardcore as fuck and hold up well. in sum, fuck children. (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#30503659) |
|
Date: May 18th, 2016 7:35 AM Author: Opaque locus I have read some of the Potter books.
I enjoyed them. The "world building" element of the stories are fascinating and well done and the author taps into classic teen/student fears and angst, so it's fantasy but grounded in reality, which makes it almost believable.
Plus the whole quest of good versus evil and the ultimate defeat of evil is well done and compelling enough to keep you interested in the series. The books I read had sufficient puzzles and mystery elements to keep you glued to the pages too.
Rowling is no Terry Pratchett but I give her kudos for creating a highly stimulating series for kids. If I remember from when the books first came out they were very popular among boys as well as girls and people were talking about how the Potter series was one of the few books boys were reading.
|
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 1:09 PM Author: Titillating kitchen (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475073) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 3:00 PM Author: Violent ungodly blood rage business firm I read it because chicks were super into them
The series was smart in that the content got more mature and dark as its initial readership base grew up, so it kept the fandom engaged and became a part of their life
|
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 3:30 PM Author: khaki principal's office It's a really good story that captures a shit ton of universal stories in a compelling way. It didn't hurt that the movies were very well made or that people were ready for a good wizard story (just like they ewere ready for a pirate story when Pirates of the Carribean came along) (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475742) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 5:11 PM Author: Walnut orchestra pit Explain in what way people were ready for wizard or pirate stories, sounds like bs unless you mean there wasn't a gigantic hit with a wizard or pirate as the main character in the preceding few years (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36476248) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 3:47 PM Author: bateful geriatric abode idiot lmao at all the projection itt by everyone besides charles
they were pretty much popular for the reasons he delineated--6th graders made harry potter a YUGE success, not 28 y/o okcupid women who mention it in their profile. also, as the writing got slightly more advanced with later books, the 12 year olds who kept up with the series could still relate instead of feeling like they're just reading a childrens novel. |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 3:54 PM Author: Arrogant home boltzmann cr I was basically the same age as Harry all the way through, so started when I was 11 and grew up with it. They got progressively darker and more adult. The character development is really good and the story is compelling. As a kid, they were page-turners, would get the new one opening night at the bookstore and stay up all night and finish it in a day, even later when they were like 750 pages |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:11 PM Author: angry theatre private investor Never seen the movies or read a book (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475908) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:16 PM Author: Arrogant home boltzmann the movies are a waste of time unless you've read the books they leave a ton of stuff out, particularly in the later ones, because they're pressed for time you just won't appreciate them without having read them first |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:29 PM Author: Aphrodisiac step-uncle's house Cr I saw the movies and was completely lost. They're complex as fuck (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475985) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:18 PM Author: racy charcoal death wish church building according to exorcists, it was satan/demons (http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3225269&forum_id=2#36475945) |
|
Date: July 22nd, 2018 4:21 PM Author: Arrogant home boltzmann guy raised by yuge Christianmos here my parents never understood why some of their church friends were so uptight about their kids reading HP, thought it was totally silly. the magic is in no way "occult," they might as well be X-men with superpowers. and the story is clearly good vs. evil, which is a positive thing for kids to internalize |