I’m on the panel of people who will be judging submissions for Phoenix Rising, the first academic conference devoted to all things Harry Potter. It’s going to be in New Orleans from May 17-21, 2007 (yes, that’s next year), and the submissions deadline is Nov. 1 of this year. If you’re a Harry Potter nerd — whether academic or fan — consider submitting a proposal! The call for papers says:

The overarching conference themes focus on rebirth, cycles, and the rise of the hero at the end of the sixth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Additionally, special attention will be given to the arts, including examinations of Harry Potter and its convergence with music, visual arts, and film. The programming will not be limited to those themes, however, and presentations that address the Harry Potter series, related works, and phenomenon across all disciplines are encouraged as well. A non-exhaustive list of sample topics includes literary analyses of the novels; studies of the cultural phenomenon; use of the novels in schools and libraries for education; examination of related business and legal issues; scientific explanations of magic in the series; media and fan studies; craft-based workshops in writing, art, and publishing; and overviews of how the series and films fit into larger contexts.

No, I can’t guarantee you’ll be picked — I’ll have to let other judges decide on submissions from friends — but I can guarantee that hanging out with Harry Potter devotees in New Orleans next year will be awesome!

This entry was posted on Monday, April 17th, 2006 at 5:19 pm.
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