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The Harry Potter Fandom: an interview
by Luna Lovegood
August 1, 2004
The Harry Potter world of fandom is a strange one indeed. Every movie, every book, every music band, and every topic that is capable of generating discussion has a fan base - a group of people who can appreciate whatever the subject may be. This could even include the fandom of Chia Pets, the amazing muggle pet that grows grass for hair, which was invented and first given its name on September 8, 1977. But I guess the main question is how are Harry Potter fans so different from all of the millions of others? How are Harry Potter fans a special breed? Because if there is any fact that is unquestionable, it is that Harry Potter fans are a very special breed.
As of late, I've been very consumed in finishing summer homework and recollecting my "misplaced" belongings from during the year. Sally Jenkins actually just sent me my neon-sometimes invisible-beaded necklace last week, which she had found earlier and had forgotten to give back, bless her soul for owling it back. But, as I was saying, I've been out and away from the swarms of fans, so luckily I stumbled upon Camille whom happens to be fully immersed into the workings of the fans' minds. The following is a fire-chat I was able to conduct earlier this week (and no worries, my quick quote quills are much revised):
L: Luna
C: Camille
L: Camille, how long have you been absorbed in the Harry Potter fan world?
C: Hey Luna, you know, it seems like since forever, but...hmmm (thoughtful looking coming across her face) about five years.
L: Any theories about the fans that you've met throughout those many years?
C: Well, first off, I believe that there are so many layers when it comes to Harry Potter fans. It's almost as if there is a hierarchy.
L: Hmmm, so it's that serious?
C: Yep, very much. Harry Potter fans are a serious bunch, always ready for a good debate, and always competing against each other in a fight of the most knowledgeable - the most obsessive.
L: Could you describe this hierarchy for us?
C: Oh yes, I tend to sort them as follows:
There is Level 1, who are the fans who have read all of the books innumerable times, can recall every single detail in the books, and can even enjoy the movies as pure entertainment. There are very few in this category, but when you find one, the knowledge will blow you away.
Next is the Level 2, who are fans that have read the books over twenty times, can't recall every single detail but most every one of them, and can still take the movies for face value.
The following is Level 3, which is comprised of fans that have read the books more than five times, can recall details adequately but not as well as level one and two, yet can still watch the movies for their entertainment.
Next is the Level 4, which is like level three in every way except that the fans in this group have a hard time watching the movies. Usually they watch it and can only complain that it is not the same as the books.
Next is Level 5, which is comprised of the people who can read a book one time and aren't pushed to re-read over and over again. These fans are usually a bit vague on the details, and actually can enjoy the movies for the same reason as level one, two, and three.
The penultimate, Level 6, is the exact same as level five except they are unsatisfied when it comes to the movies because there are difference between the book and the movie.
And the final, Level 7, is all the fans who have never picked up a Harry Potter book. These fans have only seen the movies, which leads to many gaps in their Harry Potter knowledge base.
L: Awe-inspiring, but I do have one minor query. I notice the movies seem to be an important factor, how do they come into all of this?
C: Now this whole bit is a little iffy. But normally I find that the highest levels of fans are able to watch the movies as entertainment and understand that the movies will never be as good as the books. They can see that the movies can't portray exactly like the canon, and through accepting this fact, they enjoy the movies much better than others. Also, though, I find that fans in the lower levels hold the belief that the movies are horrible in an attempt to reach a higher level by backing up the cannon in the books. The lower levels believe that the higher levels would dislike the movies since they aren't completely true to the books, but in many cases, these higher levels don't actually do this. So, it is actually an effort by the lower levels to, in their own way, take part in a higher-level belief, which is in reality false.
L: Thought about this much, I see. But you did say there were other layers, what would those be?
C: (her eyes light up before plunging on) There are other layers based on the characters such as how much a fan will value a certain character. Let's say a person was a fan of Fred and George, then that fan would be perceived as a funny, carefree type of person whereas if a person's favourite character is Hermione, then they'd be seen as very intelligent. An even deeper layer to this would be the relationships between different characters. While a Harry/Hermione shipper may indicate a "perfect fairytale" type person, a Harry/Ginny shipper would point to a fan who knows what unrequited love feels like, therefore, they can identify with Ginny.
L: (starting to get exhausted) Are there any more possible layers included?
C: Yep. One very small layer left, and this one is of age. Harry Potter fans know best that age doesn't matter. It seems like everyone outside of this fandom has a general idea that Harry Potter is solely for kids, which is very wrong - and any Harry Potter fan would scream that to the rooftops. This hindrance of non-Harry Potter fans makes this fandom more open to age, so even though this layer of difference does exist, it is very minor. This only difference comes when a younger website or group owner may feel insecure since there are so many other old people out there making sites, so they compensate by being very professional when dealing in the Harry Potter world since they do know that many adults are part of the fandom. I feel as if the older division does tend to see the young ones in a lower level than they actually are. This generalization comes into account mostly from the stereotype that all teenagers only care that, "Daniel Radcliffe is soooooooooooooo sexy!" This phrase might be true for many people, but the higher levels tend to look down upon it. However, this mostly just brings us back to the hierarchy on how the obsessive-ness of a fan is in direct correlation to how much Harry Potter knowledge they hold.
L: Wow, what a lesson. Thank you so much for sharing with us your theories, and hope to hear from you again some time.
C: (nodding head vigorously) Thanks Luna!
Talk about a lesson in the workings of the Harry Potter fandom. I almost feel as if exiting a theory-based transfiguration class. There are definitely many layers, sort of like an onion, when it comes to these fans.
The inner working of a fans' outlook on the subject of Harry Potter is a very serious one. I've heard of many verbal forum fights to the point where, if in person, blood would be everywhere. Everyone has their own theories for what the future holds, and that paired with the fans' fierce dedication is a great potion for discussions that can get ugly, that can get long, but most importantly, they yield new and interesting ideas in the pursuit of truth.
Regarding fandom levels, in the end, they aren't the most imperative factor. As long as your obsessive-ness is true to yourself, and that you can truly enjoy the magical world of Harry Potter, then you are definitely on the right side of the Quidditch Pitch.
Back to the HP-Files
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