The Harry Potter books were runaway bestsellers and box office hits and now they are an academic topic.
Six classes based on the books are being held on campus through April 7. The classes started last week but the second class is at 6 p.m. today in McAlister Hall, Room 302, also known as The Forum.
The classes examine the social, class, sexual orientation and other topical issues readers have found in the books.
Colby Bennett and Gurrie Frisbie, the senior Honors College students who designed the classes, intended the course to be a seminar for other Honors College students but the university decided to offer the course to all students. The classes are free and no registration is required.
“Doing the class like this really does give everyone the best of both worlds,” Frisbie said. “There’s still a classroom feel, but it’s very laid back and open to anyone.”
The schedule for the remaining classes are:
- March 10: Harry Potter and the legal world
- March 17: Race, class and Harry Potter
- March 24: “I am Snape, the Potions Master.”
- March 31: Dumbledore’s gay…so what?
- April 7: Wizard Rock (Screening of “We are Wizards” documentary)
The classes will last about two hours.
