Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Harry Potter and many of the various other things I intend to discuss.
As many of you other HP fans may do in your spare time, I often find myself comparing movies or other books I read to Harry Potter. It has become a bit of a game to prove I am a devoted fan by finding good, profound similarities between Harry Potter and random subjects. (As opposed to the podcasters on mugglecast, who, though I do love them, just get silly and random when it comes to this game.) This is my first installment of what I hope to be a series of short articles concerning the results of my endeavors.
Make the Connection: HARRY POTTER and GOTHS
One major common plight shared by the well-loved book series Harry Potter and the culture of young people labeled as "goths" is the condemnation they face from the fanatics of the Church. Both have been accused of promoting the belief in Satan or the practice of actual witchcraft. Again, in both cases, these accusations are wildly off-base.
Additionally, both goths and the Harry Potter storyline draw upon pre-existing cultures for inspiration. Many goths are concerned with the dress and paraphernalia f the Medieval Period, including ornate metal crosses and lace-up corsets. Harry Potter, on the other hand, is a literary melting pot for myths and legends of various cultures. Names of certain characters are derived from Greek deities and constellations (i.e. Minerva, Draco), while the numerous fantastical creatures come from folktales of lands from the British Isles (red caps) to Japan (kappas).
This particular subject was suggested to me by my sister. However, I will run out of ideas soon, so if you have any suggestions for what you want me to try and make the connection to, please mention them in a review. Thank you.