For our last class assignment we read an insightful and informative article by Chuck Klosterman titled "Sulking with Lisa Loeb on the Ice Planet Hoth." In the article Klosterman detailed how the film trilogy Star Wars took the world by storm and influenced a generation. People were caught up in the spectacle of the movies, seeing them multiple times, buying merchandise, dressing as characters, and modeling themselves after the characters in the films. I believe mass media has provided us with a similar cultural force in the Harry Potter franchise that is having a similar impact on the current generation.
Harry Potter started off as a book series. It caught fire and quickly gained a large following that only increased in an explosion of popularity as more books were released. Unlike most books the series was constantly re-released as special editions and boxed sets while the series was being completed. The books were transformed, while the series was still being written, into a motion picture franchise that became a blockbuster. People turned out in droves to see the films and the series did incredibly well. The movies received similar treatment to the books. Each came available on dvd when released, but were being constantly repackaged as special editions and box sets as each film was released.
With the success of both the film and book series, merchandising became a lucrative venture for the franchise. You could buy any number of collectibles seen or used by the characters in the films. You could buy costumes to dress as your favorite characters. Video games, toys, theme park rides, almost nothing was immune from being touched by the Harry Potter franchise. It has enveloped our culture to such a point that references to many of the characters in the films are considered to be common knowledge, things everyone should know and understand, fans of the series or not. Star Wars defined the last generation, we have Harry Potter.
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