Harry Potter and the Pop Culture Conference
May 06, 2017
In honor of the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, DePaul Pop Culture Conference presented Harry Potter and the Pop Culture Conference in 2017.
We raised over $1800 for the Harry Potter Alliance--
Our Distinguished Contributions to Popular Culture Award Recipient was Alanna Bennett---
Our Academic Keynote was Dr. Christopher Bell.
Academic Keynote: Christopher Bell
Dr. Christopher Bell is an Assistant Professor of Media Studies and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Communication at the University of Colorado–Colorado Springs (UCCS). His academic books include Hermione Granger Saves the World! (McFarland 2012), Legilimens! Perspectives in Harry Potter Studies (Cambridge Scholars 2013), From Here to Hogwarts (McFarland 2015) and Wizards vs. Muggles (McFarland 2016). Dr. Bell serves as the chair of the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association’s Harry Potter Studies division.
Distinguished Contributions Award Recipient:
Alana Bennett
Alanna Bennett is a Film and TV Writer for Buzzfeed. She is perhaps best known for her writings on Harry Potter and racebending Hermione Grainger. She has written previously for The Mary Sue, Bustle, and The Harry Potter Alliance. She writes entertaining content about entertainment, has interviewed talent, appeared on camera, covered live events, and worked in innovative formats. She tweets at @AlannaBennett
Schedule
9:15am – 10:15am
The Harry Potter Alliance, Fan Activism, and Stories for Social Change
The Banality of Evil: Collaborators and Appeasement in Harry Potter*
10:30am – 11:30am
The Patronuses: Putting Harry Potter Activism into Practice
Expanding the Narrative: Spin-offs, Sequels, and the Harry Potter Canon
The Occult Potter: Materiality and Wizardry in Harry Potter
Quidditch Through the Ages
11:45am – 12:45pm
Keynote: “Defending Tom Riddle: The Failure of Albus Dumbledore.”
Dr. Christopher Bell.
JK Who? Investigating Authorship in the Harry Potter Canon and Fandom
Discarding the Cloak of Invisibility: A Candid Look at the Whitewashing in the Potterverse*
Outdoors: Quidditch Through the Ages
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Beyond the 7 Potters
Are Metaphors Enough? Queer Readings of Harry Potter*
The Political Potter: Harry Potter and the Political Situation*
The Portraits Are Moving: Students Examine Art and Harry Potter
2:15pm – 3:15pm
Keynote: Alanna Bennett.
Screening of “Wizard People, Dear Reader.”
3:30pm – 4:30pm
The Importance of Memes in How We Understand the Harry Potter Franchise
Harry Potter and the Infinite Syllabus: How Harry Potter Has Shaped Education
From Representation to Resistance: Reimagining Harry Potter to Reflect Our Struggles*
Fandom: Pilgrimages, Preferences, and Performances*
Screening of “Wizard People, Dear Reader.”
4:45pm – 5:45pm
The Religious Potter: Religion, Ethics, and Meaning in Harry Potter
Studying Harry Potter in the United Kingdom
Inclusion and the Other in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter*
The Historical Potter: Harry Potter, History, and Propaganda
5:45pm – 6:00pm
Results of the Silent Auction
vendors at the 2017 conference
Tee shirt design by Laura Bluett