Nerd Blog: HP7 and You.

By Sky Holzinger in Arts and Culture on 11/30/10

It’s almost over; we will all soon graduate from Hogwarts and free ourselves of the Harry Potter craziness! Part 1 of it’s conclusion, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, has been our for a week now. A few months from now will usher in the new era of fantasy pop sagas when the last film comes out. What will mainstream geeks look forward too?

I once heard a woman on the radio say “I wish I went to Hogwarts.” Which in a way is how I felt when I read the book at the mature age of 22. Luckily I was at Northwest University which is comparable to Hogwarts. This same phenomenon occurs in other films of the same genre. “How come real life isn’t this cool?” people asked. Why can’t our lives have the scope of Star Wars or the epic purpose of The Lord of the Rings or the passion of Avatar?

Well for one, it’s a movie. You don’t go to Hogwarts. You go to work. But…

J.K. Rowling had a good idea and put all her time and life into writing that first novel. Ironically she created the world of Hogwarts, where witches and wizards are born with magical talents and if one practices enough, they will reach a level of ability and experience in which they can create something out of nothing. Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and Avatar all took armies of people and decades to create. We fortunate audience get the drug-like high of all that work and cool ideas concentrated into a potent 2-hour dose. Which brings me to my next answer.

Real magic takes time. Have seen something out in the real world that amazed you? Maybe something in nature or someone’s ability? These things took a time and work, and more time to accomplish. Even the most gifted artistic prodigy must practice and study for years to become a true genius. But when he does, he can cast spells over the ears and hearts of listeners with a flick of his bow or wiggle of his finger. A gifted painter can make art, but with talent and effort, she can create heartbreak on canvas. In the same way Supermom wasn’t always that way, neither was Superhusband, it took them years and hard work to hone their abilities.

My point in case you missed it, is don’t get bummed walking out of Harry Potter or next month’s geekocalypse, Tron. But know that you have a purpose with real meaning that with time and effort, people will be amazed at. You could be the foreman who gets makes houses go up like magic. You could be be the child-whisperer or the budget wiz with superhuman self-control. You can’t do it with a magic spell, but you can do it!

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