Chapter
9 tackles the idea of fandoms spreading beyond their original form of a single
media series. Much of the chapter is spent describing the lives and
concerts of a “wizard rock” band called Harry and the Potters. Wizard
rock is a form of filk, encompassing the world created by J. K. Rowling in her
Harry Potter series. Gilsdorf ponders the meaning of parodies, extended
series, and fanfics, particularly what he calls ‘slash fiction’ which puts the
characters from a story in more risqué situations. He views this as geek
culture entering the mainstream. To further point out how the culture had
become mainstream, Ethan attended J. K. Rowlings’ commencement speech at
Harvard University. She made a moving speech about going out into the
world and use their human magic to do good.
Eventually,
Ethan meets up with Joe ‘Harry year 4’ and Paul ‘Harry year 7’ DeGeorge, the
two brothers who front Harry and the Potters as they embark on their final
tour. They discuss the geekstar life and Ethan finds himself envying
their rockstar status among geeks. Eventually, the Harry Potter craze
will pass, but as Gilsdorf points out, it’s been large and widespread enough
that The Boy Who Lived will take his place in the fantasy pantheon beside Luke
Skywalker and Bilbo Baggins.
Is
Geek Culture still “geek” if it’s mainstream?
Is
there an age at which being an unabashed geek is no longer appropriate?
By
Erik Poppleton
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