Harry Potter on the Page and on the Screen

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Dr. John Alberti teaches and writes about movies, popular culture, writing, and literature at Northern Kentucky University. He has taught classes in London as part of CCSA since 1994 and loves introducing new groups of students to British culture and history. His books include a forthcoming essay collection, "Transforming Harry: The Adaptation of Harry Potter in the Transmedia Age," based on his NKU and CCSA courses on Harry Potter. In addition to Harry Potter, he also has published books on the Simpsons, the history of American cinema, and gender in the romantic comedy. A native Californian, he received his BA in English from the University of Southern California and his PhD from the University of California Los Angeles. He enjoys reading, watching movies, binge watching peak TV, travel, and playing music.

(More Info)

Faculty:
Dr. John Alberti (More Info)
Course:
Harry Potter on the Page and on the Screen
Program:
London Winter Winter 2024-25
Program Dates:
Dec 26, 2024 – Jan 8, 2025
Honors Credit:
None
WKU Course:
ENG 290
Discipline(s):
English , Literature , Pop Culture
Course Description:

You've read the books and seen the movies. Now explore the Harry Potter phenomenon in contemporary British culture on-site in London. In our course, we will analyze and write about the film adaptations of Harry Potter and how they illustrate the issues involved when literature is converted into movies. We’ll also explore sites in Oxford and London that inspired the books and provided unforgettable locations for the movies, such as the London Zoo and Hampton Court Palace, in addition to touring the Harry Potter exhibit at Warner Brothers London studios. Muggles and wizards welcome!

Prerequisites:
For upper-division credit, students must have completed the minimum written composition requirements at their home institution. Students will be expected to read the Harry Potter novels and watch the Harry Potter movies before the class begins.
Physical Activity Requirements:
Daily activities include significant walking on both paved and uneven surfaces (three to five miles per day, including long walking tours), using public transportation, climbing stairs and hills, and exposure to winter weather.
Course Highlights:
  • Explore the intersection of British history and culture with the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
  • Embark on your own adventure, tracing the footsteps of Harry, Hermione, and Ron through iconic London landmarks.
  • Discuss the cultural significance of Harry Potter as both a cherished British institution and a global phenomenon reshaping the landscape of literature and entertainment.
  • Explore other iconic sites such as the London Zoo and the Globe Theatre.
  • The course works well both as a major/minor requirement or elective in English, film, or media studies and in many general education categories, and is available as a lower or upper division course. It is open to any students interested in Harry Potter, how books are adapted to movies, and how who we are and where we are from shape our responses to literature, movies, and the world.