Part One (due before class on Jan. 22nd):
Directions: Skim and summarize both “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic,” by Elizabeth Teare (Inquiry 548-562), and “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books,” by Daniel Hade (Inquiry 563-573), according to the layout under "Writing a Summary" on pg. 144 of Inquiry; use the list form, only 1-3.
Ex.
Teare:
1.
2.
3.
Hade:
1.
2.
3.
Part Two (due before class on Jan. 27th):
Directions: Re-read both “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic,” by Elizabeth Teare (Inquiry 548-562), and “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books,” by Daniel Hade (Inquiry 563-573), and contextualize the two articles. Indicate why the articles would be important to a particular claim/argument/thesis.
Part One and Two will help you to write your annotations for your first assignment.
Replies: stay professional, and offer any advice to your classmates that you think they could use to improve their work. Also look at the work of others and see how you might use their example to improve your own work.
Rebecca Kienbaum
ReplyDeleteProfessor Taylor
English 122- 115
22 January 2014
Teare:
1. The key claims that Teare makes start with the idea that the “Harry Potter” series was written with the intent to entertain young readers. However, the author goes on to argue that the concept changed to one of teaching children the idea of living apart from consumerism, while encouraging them to embrace technology and cultural commercialism.
2. The author uses examples from the book in order to support her arguments including the reference to the family that Harry grew up with, showing the concept of a very materialistic lifestyle. She uses the contrast of his very meager style and humble attitude, which is mixed with his new found riches.
The author also uses an example of how Rowling herself makes light of a commodity culture, but goes on to encouraging young readers to become consumers themselves.
3. The gist that comes across from the author concerning the books written by Rowling is that Rowling has presented a different standard for the children in her books as well as her young readers. While she presents consumerism as a positive standard for children, she writes critically about the adults that are materialistic.
Hade:
1. The key claims that Hade points out in his writing begin with his claim that there are historical inaccuracies in the stories written about young girls that were immigrants to the United States. Secondly, he presents his claim that although their stories were told, there are no real causes listed for or against the rights of young women of that era, and didn’t show an accurate picture of their struggles to survive.
2. One example he uses for his argument is the contrast between the girls whose stories are told, some of whom that lived in poverty, while one of the girls was raised by a wealthy grandmother. Another example he uses for his argument is that in spite of the historical inaccuracy of the book, it has been used as an educational tool.
3. The author’s main gist of his argument is that history cannot be possibly be taught through using books or stories that romanticize historical events rather than using the actual details of those events or people.
The concept of these two writings present a two part argument leading to the idea that children's literature such as "Harry Potter" and "American Dolls" lead children to believe in a romanticized view of life. In one series, they are taught that consumerism is good, as long as a person has had disadvantages, such as Harry Potter, but others such as the greedy, self centered adults should be held accountable for their materialistic lifestyles.
DeleteIn Hade's writing, children are mislead to think of the girls as having had an easy transition into their new lives, without presenting the real challenges that they faced. The education or entertainment of young readers should not lead them to ideals of materialism or dishonest views of history, but rather an appreciation of what is theirs already, as well as respect for those who built a foundation for them to live in this country.
Sara Patch
ReplyDeleteInstructor Taylor
ENG 122-115
January 22, 2014
Teare:
1. A key claim that Teare states is “some claim magical themed books send an “Anti-Christian” message; while others find the books exemplary for their modeling of moral and philosophical virtues.” While her intent was to entertain young readers it has done so much more than that. She also claims parents have mentioned a change in their child. A child that used to be a non-reader is now a reader due to the love of reading these books. I believe the mixture of fantasy and reality tends to consume the reader and make them want more.
2. The author also uses examples throughout the reading to illustrate her belief in the book and the reading culture. She states that when asked ‘what makes the books an international phenomenon among children, parents and teachers” she states “Stories that books tell, as well as stories were telling about them, enact both our fantasies and our fears of children’s literature and publishing in the context of the twenty-first-century commercial and technological culture. Another example that I believe draws parents and teachers in is the fact that the author uses situations in the book to make children better understand real life situations. For instance, she uses Ron Weasley’s poverty as an example. In the book Ron’s family has seven children and not a lot of money. Ron is passed down a wand, and second hand robes. This teaches the importance of money to children, and how important it is to appreciate what you have.
3. I believe the Gist of this authors argument is to point out that fiction-even fiction aimed at children can teach readers values that shape their relation to culture. I also believe that she writes to entertain and instill values on our future leaders.
Hade:
1. A key point that Hade points out is the fact that there are many inaccuracies in the stories written. The stories are about young immigrant girls in the United States. He also points out that although there was some truth to these stories there were no real causes listed for or against the rights of women of that time frame and it did not provide any accurate information about how they struggled to survive. The main focus for these books was to promote history to girls. It was also meant to assure teachers that the materials in this book were meant to highly motivate children, and build self-esteem. I believe that these books could have been more historically correct and still could have kept the same goal.
2. Another example of the author’s argument he expresses is the fact that there are many missed opportunities to properly educate the children reading these stories. For example, in one of the books “Meet Kirsten” at the end of the book it has a “peek into the past” with a paragraph and map. Instead of properly educating the reader by telling them Kirsten is the incorrect spelling for a Swedish name they continue to spell it the wrong way. They also fail to state that her last name Larsson would have more than likely been changed when they came to the United States. The last name would have been far too long and changed to Larson. Although, the book has many historical inaccuracies it still continues to be used as an educational tool.
3. The gist of this authors argument is that history should be taught with actual details not romanticized historical events with inaccuracies.
PART 2
DeleteCommercialism and commodities are brought to our attention when reading both of Teare and Hades articles. What was originally meant to educate and stimulate our growing children has now been corrupted so to speak. When Elizabeth Teare speaks of the “Harry Potter series written by J. K. Rowling’s she brings to our attention that what was set out to educate children on the values and norms of society has now been commercialized. Larger corporations have turned a fantasy that was meant to stimulate the imagination into something much more, like profit.
The article written by Daniel Hade on the “American Girls books” expresses the fact that there are many missed opportunities to properly educate the readers on what really happened to these girls while traveling to the United States. It seems as though the American Girl books were meant to shield the readers of the hard truths and place false ideas of how amazingly wonderful their lives were. What really irritates me more than anything is the fact that these books are being used to educate our children on the histories of these girls. I don’t see how you can properly educate anyone on the history with these books when they have so many historical inaccuracies. In Conclusion, both articles touch on how commercialism and commodities have been placed on what was originally set out to better our children. I believe that when the writers of these books wrote them, they had good intentions.
Sara Patch
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWARNING: Don't take what I have to say as gospel for my fellow classmates. I have no idea what Im talking about and couldn't really figure this out for whatever reason. :P Hope this helps anyone.
ReplyDelete(1.) The key claims of Teare is that the “Harry Potter” series provides an education in how to oppose the consumerist force that every person in the world faces. Whether that person be three years of age or sixty five, we all face that force.
(2.) Through examples detailing the character of Ron, a member of a famously poor family, and even Harry himself, a very noble and generous steward of his assets, Teare shows that every character in some way, shape, or form offers a lesson of insight of how to deal with consumerist ideals.
(3.) Now Teare allows that being consumerist doesn’t make you an evil person. Even Harry wanted a nicer broomstick at one point in the books. However, Teare’s gist is that it is wise to learn how to be at an even level with consumerism and embracing newer technology.
(1.)Throughout “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books”, Hade writes that the history Americans are taught, especially through children’s books, is not necessarily accurate at times.
(2.) Using the stories from the “American Girls” books Hade proves that there are several errors that are flat out wrong. Hade shows through the stories of Kirsten and Samantha that many of the events that happened to these girls in the books never really happened or simply couldn't possibly happen.
(3.) It would be foolish to assume that Hade did not realize that these were dramatizations of what actually happened. However, through the essay he argues that it is even more foolish to teach history this way, especially to young children, because of how little history is actually used in the writings.
Part 2
DeleteThrough "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic", by Elizabeth Teare, and "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books", by Daniel Hade, the reader is brought forth with two essays that bring light to the existence of consumerism in children's stories, that few even notice. In Teare's essay, she notes that yes at first the "Harry Potter" series wasn't affected by consumerism or consumeristic pressures but eventually it succumbed to its allure. With Hade's essay, the "American Girls" books embrace consumerism at the expense of both historical accuracy and the education of the young girls who read them. In short, consumerism is eventually accepted by both book series and is thus forced upon the children reading them without them knowing. Both of these writings would be of use to a writer who wished to explain the existence of consumerism in children's books. Both have solid uses of evidence and use them convincingly in proving the authors' points.
Megan Coleman
ReplyDeleteInstructor Taylor
Eng 122-115
January 22, 2014
Teare:
1. The author’s key claim in this story is, controversy over consumerism can easily be seen yet not easily solved. Especially over the argument of the ideas and ideals of commercialism being absent mindedly taught to our future generations reading Rowling’s’ Harry Potter series.
2. The author uses Harry potter merchandise, pokemon cards, and video games in general as examples of commodities to get the reader to understand that people absorb and buy into these products costing them more cash. Also the author uses key parts in the stories of Harry potter to show how Rowling brings up the issue of consumerism but always finds a safety rope to make it quite clear that it is not an issue. So the audiences reading do not realize that that is what they are being bought into.
3. The author never fully establishes whether being for or against but provides the reader the knowledge of both sides and critics so that the reader can decide more for themselves on what they think about commercialism and consumerism.
Hade:
1. The author’s main points were, the telling of the company’s background, points out the specific details that were inaccurate with the American girls back story, and questions the decision process of who becomes an American girl and who does not.
2. The author uses facts and prices when talking about history, he numerically states 5 things wrong with just one American girl doll, and goes into another dolls detail and origin to show who is really fit to be in an American girl category.
3. The author disagrees with the American girl doll’s back stories being presented as fact when it is indeed fiction.
Teare
ReplyDelete1. Elizabeth Teare claims that while Harry Potter’s author, J.K. Rowling, makes fun of and otherwise shows disapproval of our society’s consumer culture in her books, she actually fuels many of the issues associated with it.
2. Teare points out “The Empty-Headed Celebrity” in the persona of Gilderoy Lockhart, the emphasis placed on status symbols such as wands and broomsticks, and the fact that the Harry Potter book series has spawned its own line of commodities in the form of toys, games, clothes and even more books.
3. Teare’s argument is that while the Harry Potter series is touted as being different from other children’s literature, it’s really just the same. They’re just doctrine for creating consumers.
Hade
1. Daniel Hade claims that the American Girl book series misleads young females by giving inaccurate representations of not only the history of our country but of socio-economic interactions as well.
2. Hade points out several historical inaccuracies such as the logistics of the trip from Sweden, the social interactions of white people and anyone not white, and the fact that most children did not have this fairytale life but worked in sweat shops under horrid conditions just to help feed their families.
3. Hade argues that while the Pleasant Company claims to help young girls by exposing them to history they’re true intent is only to bleed the girls’ parents’ bank accounts with all of the sidebar schwag they’re peddling. To top it off the books don’t even do a good job of teaching the history part.
Blog Response #1
ReplyDeleteHADE
1. Hade’s main claim is that although the wildly popular and successful “American Girls” franchise developed by the Pleasant Company has become such a popular and integral way for girls in the US to learn about history, it fails to accurately portray it. The author also claims that the Pleasant Company has essentially turned history into something that can be bought and paid for, for pretty significant sums of money.
2. Examples:
- “…the books fail in showing an accurate and authentic view of the American past” (Hade 572).
- “Instead of creating a tie to the past and a greater understanding of the struggles girls (and most Americans) endured, these books show a sanitized version of the United States” (Hade 572).
3. The essence of Hade’s argument is that the “American Girl” franchise uses the façade of connecting girls with history to sell product.
TEARE
1. Teare’s key claims are that:
- “Readers can be taught values that shape their relation to culture” (Greene, Lidinsky 548).
- Even in the Harry Potter series, which innocently seems about a young wizard and his adventures is laden with consumerism struggles that are pertinent in our culture today.
2. Examples:
- “Rowling’s children are fully exposed to the temptations of commerce in the magic world” (Teare 560)
- “The brand of broomstick one rides is a status symbol, and the best model of the year, Harry’s Nimbus 2000, can be made obsolete by the next year’s Nimbus 2001, acquired by arch-rival Draco Malfoy,” (Teare 560).
- Magic wands, like Muggle cars or computers, are marketed to match their buyer’s personality, and settling for second-hand will make you a lesser wizard,” (Teare 559).
3. The gist of Teare’s argument is that Rowling uses children and their view of “commodity culture” (Teare 561) gives adults a platform to ponder such concerns, but not actually solve them.
-Kayla Reeves
Michaela Pakenham
ReplyDeleteEmily Taylor
Eng 122
January 22, 2014
Teare:
1. Teare describes the enactment of fantasy and fear of the publishing with children's literature in the twenty-first-century's commercial and technilogical culture.
2. Teare also explains the "Harry Potter Phenomenon" success that resulted from the author, J.K. Rowling's novel conforming to the standards promoted by the culture industry.
3. Teare concludes that although J.K. Rowling leaves readers, critics and publishers concerned with the definition of culture such as commerce and technology, the novel offers a useful arena to contemplate such concerns.
Hade:
1. Hade describes the success of the Pleasant Company in the production and popularity of the American Girl Collection.
2. Hade questions the accuracy of the stories told in the American Girl novels and the myth of the United States history being produced.
3. The author believes the ultimate goal of the Pleasant Company in the vast production of the American Girl Collection as a way turning history into a commodity. Hade explains the Pleasant Companie's tactics in providing a "sanitized version of the United States" for " the ultimate American goal" which is consumption.
Teare:
ReplyDelete1. Teare points out that Rowling pokes fun at those who get consumed, culture wise, with her books. In her book, Rowling introduces the exuberant Gilderoy Lockhart who bathes in the fame and glory his books brought him. She uses him as an example for those who get a taste of fame and cannot get away from it.
2. I loved that Teare brought up Ron and his families lack of wealth. Ron often expressed a tinge of jealousy towards Harry and his fame and wealth, seeing as Ron never had his own wand until the third book. It goes to show that even children can feel the effect of of consumerism for even the basics like dress robes and wands.
3. One of the best examples of commercial consumerism was when Teare mentioned the Quidditch World Cup. She used passages from the book where merchants would pop up with trays and trolleys full of goodies. In the heat of the moment, people would spend their money on useless little figurines because it was the hottest thing at the moment.
Hade:
1. Hade points out the inaccuracies made by Kirsten and Samantha (the authors of American Girls). He pointed out that if there were any hardships, children would be able to fix the situation and they (the authors) provided a more idealistic of a forming America.
2. Hade picks apart a passage where Kristen would have never seen the ocean had she not moved from Sweden, which is false as Hade points out considering Sweden is boarded by the Skagerrak, the Kattegat, and the North Sea. The book was also silent on where at she was located in Sweden.
3. The books themselves are more so a sham for Pleasant Company to make money. They are supposed to teach children about history, even though a lot of the "facts" are wrong. They almost beautify the era in which the girls grow up in to make it seem more idealistic instead of revealing the true hardships that children faced back then.
Teare:
ReplyDelete1. Teare makes an excellent point when describing how our society has changed over time. She describes how other materialistic things such as Pokemon were surpassing children's books and many young people were losing interest in books.
2. Everything shifted however, when the Harry Potter series arose. People of all ages were suddenly crazed over this series.
3. Teare doesn't fully ever state whether she is opposed to the consumerism happening, she rather states how as a society, we should be able to create a balance between both.
Hade:
1. The author begins by giving brief background information about Pleasant Company and how successful this company is with the American Girl Collection.
2. It is clear to see that the author opposes many of the stories in the American Girl novels and questions how accurate any of the information is.
3. The author believes these books have portrayed a completely inaccurate way how young woman should think. She believes the goal for the American Girl novels is consumption above everything else.
Jay Filbert
ReplyDeleteProfessor Taylor
English 122- 115
22 January 2014
Teare:
1. Elizabeth Teare's key claim in "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic," is that the stories the Harry Potter Series tell and what we tell about this story, execute both our fantasies and fears of children's literature and publishing in this day in age of the twenty-first century. The fears being that it is a commodity or a marketing scheme and does not promote good reading, rather that it promotes greed. The fantasies are that it will spark interest in a child's desire to read and will help to form a balance of value for what you have and confidence that good fortune.
2. One of the examples that Teare provides on Harry Potter promoting good moral values is the saga of the Ron Weasley and his wand throughout the first three volumes of the series. She explains that J.K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter Series, shows not all children have the best wands, like Ron, they get hand-me-downs because their parents may be at the poverty line. However, Ron's wand proves to be helpful, and when his father wins the lottery, he gets a new wand.
3. Teare's main point is that compared to all other fantasy books, Harry Potter is not just a commodity to be marketed, but rather relates directly to our world in the sense of human consumerism and what children should truly value in their lives.
Hade:
1. Daniel Hade's key claim in "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me, " is that although the Pleasant Company has made themselves seem like a huge success with The American Girl Collection in building self esteem, a sense of pride in connecting with past female ancestor's, and knowledge on American history in young girls, Hade questions that the Pleasant Company's real success is not connecting girls to their history, but rather to their ultimate goal, which is consuming products.
2. An example of how the stories of history are inaccurate is the company's creation of a Samantha doll, who is taken care by her wealthy aunt, but her friend Nellie, who is forced to work to support her family, is not made into a doll and the issue of child labor is not fully addressed and therefore confuses the causes of the historical events these girls live in.
3. Hade's gist of the argument is that through the Pleasant Company's attempt to tell young girls about their history through other girls in different parts of history, they have proven to really have the incentive of human consumption through their failing to show "an accurate and authentic view of the American past," such as the problems with child labor, through the stories sold by the company. Hade, "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me, " pg. 572 in "From Inquiry to Academic Writing"
(correction for author's key claim for "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic") The fantasies are that it will spark interest in a child's desire to read and will help to form a balance of value for what one has and confidence that good fortune will follow.
DeleteTeare:
ReplyDelete1. The key claim made in this essay argues that the Harry Potter series thrived, when children’s books were falling prey to video games, because much of the Harry Potter story resists the pressures of children’s commodity culture.
2. One example provided to support the key claim was the accounts by parents in the press expressing the recurring statements of “non-reader” children beginning to become “readers”.
3. The gist of this essay is the evaluation of what makes these books a phenomenon among children, parents, and teachers while proving of interest to a multitude of critics.
Hade:
1. The key claim in this essay argues that The American Girls Books demonstrate the same errors as many history books by displaying a feel-good feeling ignoring real historical issues.
2. One example used to support the key claim was a paragraph taken from Kirsten’s story. In this one paragraph there were five historical inaccuracies including misspelled names, inaccurate routes, and misleading statements about Kirsten’s life in Sweden.
3. The gist of this essay covers the issue of historical information being sugar coated rather than displayed with historical accuracy, specifically focusing of the Pleasant Company.
Michaela R. Pakenham
ReplyDeleteInstructor Taylor
Eng 122
January 24, 2014
Part Two:
While reading “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic,” by Elizabeth Teare and “Lies my Children’s Books Taught Me” by Daniel Hade, the argument of the values promoted by children’s books as commodities was revealed. In “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic,” Teare describes the many ways J.K Rowling’s novels have been used as a commodity. Some examples Teare uses are movies, clothing, play cards and toys. The author links the novels to modern culture. In “lies My Children’s Books Taught Me,” Hade uses examples of expensive clothing, dolls, accessories, and socials to explain the exploitation of what is supposed to be a series of books used to inform children of American history as well as boost self-esteem but has instead used it as a commodity for consumption. Both authors argue the values being created through lucrative franchise.
Part 2
ReplyDeleteBoth of these articles would be important over the argument of commercialism and commodities controlling are individual decisions on reality and consumerism. Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic by Elizabeth Teare is an article that explains her side of how she believes that because Rowling understand the concept of commercialism she is able to manipulate her reading audience to both love and hate it at the same time. In Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books by Daniel Hade he emphasizes the issues of presenting false information to younger generations. That big companies are more focus on the quantity of a product instead of quality.
Part One:
ReplyDeleteTeare:
1) Tear claims that novels have lost their cultural influence on children of the twenty first century and that popular books such as the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling are instead used as commodities, which larger franchises use as a way to bring the next generation of buyers into the commercialized consuming world.
2) Teare explains how Rowling figures into the commodity with her publication of Quidditch across the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Also, by describing in Rowling’s books that the wizards live in a pre-technological world and the “muggles” live in a world where “all children [are] obsessed with acquiring” things like video games and such. (557)
3) Teare argues that children have themselves become consumers of commercialized goods and that popular fiction novels have become a commodity that corporations use to sell to this new generation of consumers.
Hade:
1) Hade claims that the American Girls books are historically inaccurate and are passing by as history, when the books holds no historical truth in it, and is simply being used as a new form of advertisement and commercializing all the American Girls items to consuming children.
2) Hade says, “Ultimately, the goal of these books, the dolls and accessories, and the associated programs seems to be to connect American girls, not with their history, but with the ultimate American goal- consuming stuff.” (572)
3) That popular novels are no longer literature but something to make a profit from and exploit children into the world of mass consumerism.
Part Two:
Teare and Hades articles convey that larger corporations use popular books to bring children into the world of commercial consumerism, by portraying a “commodified fantasy” Hade illustrates a world where the American Girls are the ones that have it all, like Samantha, who has a maid and lives with her wealthy grandma. The girls, like Nellie, who are poor, are not the American Girls. The American Girl books showcase that only the girls that have things are the ones that are special. In Tears article she explains how Rowling jokes with the commodity off consumerism, but, Rowling also figures into the commodity with her publication of Quidditch across the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Blog Response #1, Part Two
ReplyDeleteHarry Potter and the Technology of Magic, was written by Elizabeth Teare, a doctorate graduate of Yale University. A draft of this work was presented at the “1999 Modern Language Association convention; it was later published in The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter” (Greene, Lidinsky 548). Teare joins in the conversation surrounding the Harry Potter franchise, with the viewpoint “looking at the ‘twenty-first century commercial and technological culture’ (para. 1) that shapes consumerist themes in many children’s books and marketing of merchandise associated with children’s books and films” (Greene, Lidinsky 548). The purpose of the work is that the author is attempting to make the point that even children’s publications can impart “values that shape their relation to culture” (Greene, Lidinsky 548). Literature critic Jack Zipes takes part in the conversation presented in Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic, and “argues that the Harry Potter books are so successful because they are so ‘formulaic’, that they could not succeed unless they were” (Teare 552). Zipes also argues that “middle-class parents are ‘turning [their children] into commodities’ by providing them with the cultural signs, like books, that adults think signal parenting success (xi)” (Teare 553). This particular article would be helpful in the argument that even children’s books are laden with commercialism, and technological culture. They are also full of the “money makes the world go ‘round” idealism.
Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girl Books was written by Daniel Hade, a professor of language and literacy education at Penn State (Greene, Lidinsky 563). He has previously published on children and reading in school, and prior taught elementary school. Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girl Books was published in a collection of essays entitled: Voices of the Other: Children’s Literature in the Postcolonial Context. The misinformation in the popular American Girl books was more than a mere mistake, and that the incorrect history of the stories was being bought and sold like a commodity (Hade 572) is what prompted Hade to write his essay. One person taking part in the conversation is the Pleasant Company, the founder of the American Girl franchise. They stand that their stories are historically accurate, assuring educators that their products are, “highly motivational and not only will help children understand history, but will also help build self-esteem, especially among female students” (Hade 565). James Loewen, the author of Lies My Teacher Told Me, makes the argument that the history that students are being taught today (not necessarily through the American Girl stories) is highly inaccurate, and only discusses the surface – the events, without any causation. This argument supports Hade’s argument in regard to the inaccuracies in American history being taught to students/children today.
Kayla Reeves
Part Two: writing a summary
ReplyDeleteThe readings “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic” by Elizabeth Teare, and “Lies My Children’s Books Taught Me: History Meets Popular Culture in the American Girls Books” by Daniel hade both display consumerism themes centered on children’s books. The Harry Potter book collection and the American Girl book collection both promote consumerism, whether out right or more subtle. The Harry Potter series has sold countless books, movies, playing cards and even clothes; while the American Girl series has sold millions of books, dolls, and accessories. These books encourage children to participate as consumers, and teaches the children values that shape their relationship with their culture: good or bad.
Jay Filbert
ReplyDeleteProfessor Taylor
English 122- 115
27 January 2014
Part 2
Teare:
Elizabeth Teare earned her doctorate at Yale University and has taught literature there and at the University of Dayton. She has written about famous Victorian authors, but is interested in contemporary children's literature as well. She presented a draft of her article "Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic," at the 1999 Modern Language Association Convention, and then the article was published in The Ivory Tower and Harry Potter: Perspectives on Literacy Phenomenon in 2002. Her article is based off of many perspectives on the Harry Potter series; mainly on the books, but she also mentions the movie. Ultimately, Teare does prove thoroughly that the Harry Potter books represent how our culture of marketing products puts pressure and influence on the young and old to buy the latest trending tie-ins. However, Teare also points out that J.K Rowling wrote for the sake of writing, and within her stories, she shows how the characters and people in her wizard world live through the commodity culture. "Harry Potter and The Technology of Magic" Teare, Elizabeth; "From Inquiry to Academic Writing" pgs. 548-561
Hade:
Daniel Hade is a professor of language and literacy education at Penn State University's College of Education. Before becoming a University professor, he taught in an elementary school and worked as a library and media specialist. He has also edited the Journal of Children's Literature, and is part of a community of literature and education scholars who study the "cultural work" performed by children's literature. This group of people investigates the values and morals that children's literature teaches it's adolescent readers, whether or not these values are evident on the surface of the story. Hade's essay "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me: History Meets Pop Culture in the American Girls Books," was included in a collection of essays titled Voices of the Other: Children's Literature in the Postcolonial Context, published in 2000. His essay includes facts of the Pleasant Company's success and wide influence on children from selling the American Girl collection from their dolls to their books. In contrast, Hade discredits the company's attempt to teach young girls about America's past and values by pointing out the inaccuracy of the books' accounts of history. He does not see any redeeming value in these books, and sees them only as a commodity and trendy product. "Lies My Children's Books Taught Me, " Hade, Daniel; "From Inquiry to Academic Writing" pgs. 563-572
Therefore, these two articles indicate internally and externally how commodity culture is revealed and utilized through intentions of the authors and their books that these writers talk about.
These two very well composed essays have very different truths to bestow upon the world. One focuses on how a series of books had used imagination, creation, and a compelling story in order to draw in its crowds of followers. Whereas the other decided to fool their readers into believing in the glamorous side of how things used to be in the world, rather than the harsh and most of the time dark side on what really happened just to turn their profit margins. Teare points out, with good examples, of how no matter your age, stature, religion etc. If you pick this book series up you would follow it to the end, just as the author intended to happen. “Harry Potter” after years of inadequate attempts had finally caught the attention of our world’s youth since the dawn of Nintendo systems back in the late 80’s. On the flip side of the coin Hade points out how the “American girl co” had been doing the same thing that J.K Rowling’s, only using deception as their tool rather than imagination. This company has been fooling young women into believing loosely based fact, instead of hard evidence factual material. Allowing the women to focus on how what they aim the story at, rather than the truth of how hard life really was for the majority of the world. Or even using peoples poverty as a tool to make their success that much more triumphant. Changing travel routes, adding or taking things out of history as they saw fit in order to make the story if their agenda. These stories are there interpretations on the polar opposite organizations reaching out.
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ReplyDeleteIn their essays, Elizabeth Teare and Daniel Hade both illuminate the fact that two separate children’s literature series are guilty of cashing in on the merchandising profits associated with their respective titles. Teare’s essay entitled “Harry Potter and the Technology of Magic” illustrates how the Harry Potter book series encourages and even glorifies the consumer/commodity culture of 21st century America and Europe. Daniel Hade details the same fueling of this culture stemming from the “American Girl” book series. Just because these series have indeed profited heavily from the sale of collateral merchandise does not mean they are without merit though. Countless young readers have benefitted from these books if for no other reason the improvement of literacy.
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