Harry Potter’s Moral Messages

Dr Martin Richardson: Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Durham and architect of ‘Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion’

2.30pm, Top Refectory, £8.00

Triple Durham graduate, Martin Richardson is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at the University of Durham. He is the architect of ‘Harry Potter and the Age of Illusion’, the first university module of its kind in Europe. As well as his writings and public lectures, Martin regularly gives interviews on the Potterverse to media outlets around the world.

Though initially only an idea, and fearful that the module might prove commonplace, over the past ten years it has become increasingly clear that the Potterverse is not only rich in potential, it is also rich in importance. The moral messages embedded in and inspired by the text are deeply significant for us all. Though initially dismissed by some as trite and derivative, the impact of the series is unprecedented; and as the module moves into its second decade, the time is right to reflect on this literary phenomenon.