Ferrum College Professor Offers Expert Knowledge About Harry Potter

    As Harry Potter fans everywhere anticipate the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Dr. Lana A. Whited, editor of The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on a Literary Phenomenon, once again delves into the questions that fans and critics of the series alike continue to ask. Whited, a professor of English at Ferrum College, serves as a Potter resource for media outlets ranging from Agence France Presse to The Australian to broadcast network affiliates. Through her research on the Harry Potter series and phenomenon, Whited is prepared to discuss several subjects and themes including,

• What larger themes are emerging in the series?

• Does the series reinforce social problems, such as prejudice?

• Why has the series led more adolescent boys to read?

• Are conservative religious claims that the books are harmful to children true?

• Is the magic headed in a darker direction?

• Will Harry Potter live on with Beowulf and Odysseus?

• What happens to the Potter fans after the final installment?

     Whited’s book, The Ivory Tower, examines Rowling’s first four books and features 16 essays on the tales. Essays explore topics including gender, commercialization, fan communities, how the books depict current British politics, problems facing translators of the books, and Rowling’s use of elements of fantasy, epic, and myth.

     Whited says the idea for the book came to her when, at a children’s Literature conference in June 2000, she presented a paper co-authored with Ferrum colleague Dr. M. Katherine Grimes. The room overflowed with people wanting to hear an analysis of the books. Whited plans to look at the theme of race relationships in the series for her second book, which she plans to release sometime after the seventh and final Harry Potter book is released.

     To speak with Whited on these subjects and/or any other theme, contact her at (540) 365-4334 or via e-mail at lwhited@ferrum.edu. For additional information, visit www.ferrum.edu/ivorytower.

    Ferrum College is a four-year, private, co-educational, liberal arts college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Ferrum offers a choice of nationally recognized bachelor’s degree programs at a cost well below the national average for private colleges. For more information on Ferrum, visit www.ferrum.edu.