Harry Potter and Convergence Culture : Essays on Fandom and the Expanding Potterverse

Since the 1997 publication of the first Harry Potter novel, the “Potterverse” has seen the addition of eight feature films (with a ninth in production), the creation of the fan-interactive Pottermore© website, the release of myriad video games for multiple platforms, the construction of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, several companion books (such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), critical essays and analyses, and the 2016 debut of the original stage play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

This volume examines the role of convergence culture in the construction (and reconstruction) of fan identity. Are you, like us, still waiting for your First Year letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry?

Do you imagine the nervous excitement of being Sorted in the Great Hall or the rush of streaking across the sky on your Nimbus 2000?

Well, while you wait and dream about those experiences, this collection of sixteen essays offers Harry Potter fans the opportunity to plant feet in both the Muggle and magical worlds.

Each author examines a part of the Potterverse beyond the books and eight films to uncover new interpretations of the Wizarding World through the lens of convergence culture. With these essays you can explore how online communities tackle Sorting and community games like the Quidditch Cup and the Triwizard Tournament, learn about International Quidditch and the quest for inclusivity among players, and analyze how Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are changing the landscape of fandom and the canon alike.

Also included are essays that discuss some fan-favorite topics like fanfiction and wizard rock (wrock).

Within these pages are critical essays that speak to the unchanged momentum of Harry Potter’s popularity across multiple media platforms and entertainment experiences.