Harry Potter and the Fantasy Aspect of London Culture

When one thinks of fantasy, the mind’s eye suddenly is opened up to a whole new dimension without limits, a way of life beyond rules, and a world with endless possibilities. Growing up as children, we have all been encouraged to expand our horizons, to branch out and be creative, and really put our imagination to work. But do we stop this fantastical way of thinking after reaching a certain point of maturity? Should imagination eventually come to an end? Imagination is one of the many spices of life. It allows relief from the normality of the every day routine: a source of entertainment that allows our minds to take a journey that our bodies could never grant us. It is a realm of freedom; freedom that no one else can ever take away. Imagination grants us a peace of mind when all else in life falters and fails. It is a haven of hope and wishful thinking. It is a place where dreams prosper and ignite to life. And in those seldom and rare circumstances it can even pose a threat or conjure controversy. But once a couple of these ideas (or more) begin to gather and correspond within our imagination, the formation of a fantasy comes to life.

So why choose Harry Potter, one might ask, to support the analysis of fantasy in London culture? The answer is quite simple. Harry Potter is in itself the epitome of everything a fantasy represents. In fact, it is more than that; The Harry Potter series is a collection of endless fantasies all gathered together in which an entire fantasy world has been created, unlike anything the “real” world has ever seen. Sure there are other stories that are fantasies as well, but no other story (or series of stories) has ever come even close when it comes to J.K. Rowling’s remarkable talent to go to such great depth and minute details of a fantasy world, that she herself has created. In the Harry Potter series that Rowling has so brilliantly put together, not only do you dive headfirst into a fantasy world of witches and wizards, spells and potions, and even the art of flying, but you also are introduced to how everything works and comes together with an in depth inside look at all the behind the scenes action so many crave to discover. In Harry Potter you follow the three main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their everyday lives at the magical school known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is as if you are right there beside them going through every step of the way, just as they are, learning how to make specific potions, cast certain spells, and even the rules to play their magical sport of Quidditch.

Not only is Harry Potter the picture perfect example of the idea of a fantasy, but also it has a great deal to do with London specifically. There are numerous references to various places in London throughout the series and much of London’s culture is revealed through the text. Also, much of the scenes from the movies are filmed in different locations in London, which also shines a light on the city’s culture. For example, King’s Cross is the station in which all young witches and wizards go to in order catch the Hogwarts Express, which is a train that takes them to Hogwarts. The platform in which they use for this special train is not known to Muggles (or non-magic folk), as they would say. The platform that they use is known as Platform 9 ¾, which King’s Cross station has now designated a spot on the platform to allude to this cultural phenomenon. The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley are other places located in London, which is where all witches and wizards get all their magical shopping done. The Ministry of Magic is also located in London which is the organization that keeps Muggles unaware that there are magic folk around. Gringotts, the only wizarding bank there is located in London as well. Pretty much all the important places and organizations having to do with the wizarding world are all located within London. Because London is so often referred to in this book, a great deal of its culture can be gathered by reading the text of these novels and also by watching the scenes in the movies. You get a great sense of the culture of London through all the little cracks, which is great because the reader is never left bored.

Fantasy has always been considered to be part of the children’s culture and not so much a big factor in the adult world. But as times are constantly changing, one may want to think again.

“Part of the magic in reading the Harry Potter novels is that they are written on several levels and for different audiences. A child will enjoy the storytelling itself, the characters, and the imagery, but a well read young adult will likely understand some of the allusions, the clever wordplay, and the many historical, mythical, and literary references that are embedded throughout the books. And a grown adult will, if he’s reasonably well read, enjoy it on multiple levels.” (George Beahm)
When I was in a bookstore on Charing Cross Road, I asked one of the employees to point me into the direction of the Harry Potter section of the store. The response she had for me was, “Which section would you like to go to, the children or the adult?” This completely threw me off guard because I had always found Harry Potter in the children’s or even teenage or young adult’s section. I asked her what the difference was and she explained to me that the covers on the books are different. The covers in the children’s section are the well known illustration’s that are advertised everywhere, while the cover on the adult’s section is more sophisticated looking with some of the pictures even being from real life. This just goes to show that in their culture here in London, fantasy is looked upon as more acceptable in the “adult” world. You usually don’t see many adults walking around with books of fantasy in their hands, as you do newspapers or biographies on famous and prosperous people in the world. It is evident, however, that Harry Potter has played a significant role in making the world of fantasy more popular and appealing to adults, considering the same seven-book series of novels were made a completely whole new set of book covers that are more “adult-like”.

Harry Potter has also served as a major source of entertainment every since it began. It has now been eleven years since the first Harry Potter book was published. It is remarkable that it has stayed in the spotlight for as long as it has and is still going strong. There are seven published books that complete the entire series, as well as movies to go along with each one. The fifth movie which represents the fifth book has just recently come out into theaters, which means that the anticipation and hype of the series still has much to hold in its future. There are even Harry Potter video games, costumes, posters and trinkets such as wands and quills that are on the market to purchase. Even the soundtracks for the movies are popular. Because Harry Potter has been around for so long, it has become a huge part of London’s culture, especially in terms of fantasy. Harry Potter is the biggest phenomenon that fantasy has ever seen, especially in London!

J.K Rowling does an excellent job of creating the fantasy world in Harry Potter. She makes a clear distinction between the wizarding world and the “real” world, yet also intertwines them together. The magical world is very much a replica of the “real” world but with the extra kick of the imagination added to it to give it the touch of magic. For example, there is still school in the wizarding world which is viewed in the same manor, the morals remain the same, and there are even magical sports, such as quidditch. In quidditch there’s not just one ball but rather three that are in play at the same time. There are also two objectives to the game verses just one. Not only are you supposed to score goals but also you have to catch a tiny golden ball that travels so quickly you can hardly spot it. J.K, Rowling takes the ordinary and makes it magical by taking off the boundaries that lie in reality. For example, Hogwarts is a magnificent and beautiful castle rather than some boring and uniform building in which we typically find our schools in. Rowling takes the ordinary, puts a magical spin on it, and makes it extraordinary.

Fantasy is such a great way to expand and broaden our minds, but sometimes there are people who think that there is a very strict line that should not be crossed. The Harry Potter series has had such controversy with religious groups, that claim the witchcraft in these stories are evil and associated with the Devil. It is interesting that these religious groups choose now to protest about such fantasies when stories filled with the same ideas have not been thought twice about. What about Cinderella and the godmother who uses her wand to do magic in that fairy tale? What is the difference between that magic and the magic in Harry Potter? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has the evil witch who uses a potion to poison the apple she gives to Snow White. And The Wizard of Oz has the wicked with of the West, and also a nice witch, which is exactly the kind of representation you find in Harry Potter. It seems that since the Harry Potter series goes into such detail and depth with its magic that it’s all of a sudden not acceptable anymore. It is very peculiar how these religious groups became so offended and hotheaded about this particular series.

However, as time passes by, these said religious groups have eased off and have become more accepting to the story of Harry Potter and hopefully have realized that it represents the very same ideas that so many fantasies and fairytales have before this particular story. The more time that goes by with the Harry Potter series, the effect it has on the culture. London has been infatuated with the tale of this young wizard boy for eleven years now and at least a couple more to come. Harry Potter has definitely played a huge role in fantasy and how the culture of London takes it in and now appreciates it in many generations. In Stephen King’s review of the fifth Harry Potter novel, he says, “Will kids (and adults as well) still be wild about Harry 100 years from now, or 200? My best guess is that he will indeed stand time’s test and wind up on a shelf where only the best are kept; I think Harry will take his place with Alice, Huck, Frodo, and Dorothy, and this is one series not just for the decade, but for the ages.”

Sources:

Beahm, George. Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter's World. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.

Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies: An Introduction. London: Unwin Hyman Inc., 2005.

Rowling, J.K.. Harry Potter and the Philosopher. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1999.

Anelli, Melissa. Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon. London: Simon and Schuster, 2008.

Lawrence, Will, and Joe Barnes. "The Trouble With Harry." Deathray AUG/SEPT 2009: 55-63.