I was a huge Potterhead back in the day (well…I still am, just not as obsessed). I know the books are great and all, I know how addictive her writing style is, that she can create such vivid and engaging characters and places, and the stories keep you hungry for more…but IMO that still does not completely explain the insane hype that generated. I don’t think there has ever been this level of mania and craze for a book – a children’s/YA book for that matter. So I am wondering, what are some of the factor that led to the hype? I’ve heard things like the rise in Internet (and internet fandom), JKR’s rags-to-riches story, etc all contributed. So for those who have been there, what was the mania like at that point, and what factors (aside from the quality of the books themselves) that lead to it?

  • TheBluestBerries@alien.topBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Timing and good marketing. Harry Potter is written for success. It’s the most generic possible fantasy you can imagine but it’s full of clever little gimmicks that hook people.

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    • A special class of people. Everyone thinks muggles are lame because everyone already dislikes people. Every reader loves to imagine that they could… not be a muggle.
    • A magical school completely full of little titbits of wonder. The kind of place you wish you could visit because there’s a magical marvel around every corner.
    • Lots of ways to pick sides. What house are you? What kind of wizardry would you specialize in? What teachers are your favorite? Who would you like to be friends with?
    • Lots of ways to be competitive. Merits and demerits for your house. Quidditch games. Magical challenges. Classes and grades.
    • Lots of ways to imagine customizing yourself. What kind of wand, what kind of familiar?

    The whole thing is like a video game that encourages people to imagine themselves as a character alongside the protagonists. Like a character creator you could immerse yourself in the book by picturing what kind of Hogwarts student you’d be.

    And that’s what most of the exploitation of the novel is based on. From sorting hat quizzes to buying scarves and wands. It’s all pushing the narrative that you could be a student at Hogwart.

    Creatively, the novels are derivative and bland. But the way they’re written allows people to attach a lot of their own meaning. Timing wise they were published when video games and the internet was only just on the rise so there was relatively little competition from other media.

    All in all, it’s going to be nearly impossible to replicate the effect again in book form. Other media are just far more popular and suited for the whole 'place yourself in the role of…" type thing.