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For Gen Y, Last Harry Potter End of an Era

July 27, 2011 by

[HTML1] The final film in the Harry Potter series, which since its July 15 opening has become the highest grossing movie franchise of all time, marks the end of an era for Generation Y who grew up with “the boy who lived.”

But what was it about Harry and his friends that enchanted an entire generation for more than a decade, and will the spell be broken now that the franchise has officially come to an end? Today, two guests join Keeping Up with Gen Y to illuminate the reasons for Harry Potter’s enduring legacy.

First, we’ll talk to Dr. Greg Garrett, an English professor at Baylor University and award-winning author of One Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry Potter. Then we’ll chat with Jaden Harper, a self-proclaimed fanatic of the boy wizard and sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, where she’s majoring in International Relations and Global Studies.

More about Dr. Greg Garrett
Greg Garrett is an English professor at Baylor University and award-winning author of One Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry Potter.

Dr. Garrett, who teaches creative writing, film, literature and theology at the university in Waco, Texas, has also authored We Get to Carry Each Other: The Gospel according to U2, The Gospel According to Hollywood, and Holy Superheroes. A columnist for Patheos, Dr. Garrett also blogs on religion and culture for The Huffington Post.

He is a past winner of the Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner Prize for Fiction and a CASE Gold Medal for Nonfiction, and is a member of the Texas Institute of Letters.

More abut Jaden Harper
Jaden Harper is a self-proclaimed fanatic of “the boy who lived.”

The Southlake, Texas, native is a sophomore at The University of Texas at Austin, where she’s majoring in International Relations and Global Studies. Like most of her peers, Jaden was first introduced to Harry Potter in 1999 with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

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About Tamara Bell

Tamara Bell is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Y Gen Out Loud, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that provides a platform for Generation Yto discuss national politics and public policy issues.

Tamara began her journalism career as a staff reporter for the Dallas Times Herald. A few years later, she moved to York, Pa., as a political reporter for the York Dispatch, covering local, state, and national government as well as writing investigative stories for the mid-sized daily newspaper.

A Texas girl at heart, Tamara returned to Dallas a year later to work as press relations director for the re-election campaign of U.S. Rep. John Bryant. The next year, she moved to Austin and the Texas Legislature, where she stayed for 15 years. While at the Legislature, Tamara worked for Democratic House members as Chief-of-Staff and Press Secretary, and as a Senior Policy Analyst for the Senate State Affairs Committee chaired by a Republicansenator.

In 1996, Tamara became co-owner of a political newsletter covering state issues and elections. As Editor-in-Chief, Tamara helped shape the weekly publication into a must-read for state officials, legislative aides, and lobbyists. More recently, Tamara wrote a regular column analyzing coverage by the Texas Capitol Press Corps for an online political publication. She also works as a lecturer in the Advertising Department at The University of Texasat Austin.

Tamara has also been a judge for the 2010 Bright Ideas Award given by the Texas Daily Newspaper Association, served as a panelist at the Society of Professional Journalists 2010 Region 8 Conference where the theme was How to Save Journalism, and has been a guest lecture for the Advertising Department’s Internship course, speaking about the jobs outlook for graduating seniors.

Tamara earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin, and her B.A. in Journalism from Texas A&M University. She resides in Austin with her son, Jackson.

Tamara Bell is also the Host of Keeping Up with Gen Y on WomensRadio. Keeping Up with Gen Y offers discussions, interviews, and commentary about important issues of the day from the perspective of Generation Y (18-to 30-years-old). Aimed at all generations interested in learning about and inspiring young people, this show features professionals, experts, researchers, and members of Gen Y who share insights and experiences about the topics on the minds of today’s young adults.