1. English 1061 Harry Potter and Cool Britannia

2. Joanne K. Rowling 1965- Born in England
Worked as a secretary for Amnesty International
Came up with the idea for Harry Potter while on a train in 1990
Lived in poverty and social assistance as a single divorced mother with a daughter
Sees “Hermione” as a sort of caricature of herself as a young girl
Identifies as a Christian; sees the novels’ witchcraft as fantasy
Present worth: estimated $800 million, the richest author in history

4. England : Rebuilding
Although the war is won in April 1945, England sustained heavy damage and deaths from German bombings. J.K. Rowling lost her mother and disliked her father; it’s not surprising that being orphaned is a theme in postwar British literature.

5. English culture, 1950
Technologically and culturally, by 1950 England is “modern.” The country has cars, television, movies, and early computers. The beginnings of a modern culture of consumer consumption, fashion, and music are forming.

6. The Rise of Popular Culture in England (1950s)

7. Teddy Boys
– Anti-austerity

8. England’s Swinging ‘60s
A recovery from postwar austerity leads to economic confidence, and a loosening of social rules and traditions. Fashions are more sexy; rock music becomes popular; “the pill” is available.

9. English culture, 1960’s
Despite its actual ‘empire’ shrinking, England recovered by the 1960s to become an affluent nation and a fashion, music, and cultural trendsetter.

10. The British Invasion ‘60s

11. The British Invasion ’70s

12. Punk culture, 1970s
England was increasingly hurt by energy crises, labor strikes, violent conflicts with Ireland, and declining standards of living in the 1970’s. One reaction was the ugly street-level subculture of punk, a reaction to the economic troubles of the younger generation.

13. English culture, 1980s
Economic recovery was slow, and England was increasingly split by a cultural conflict between conservative, traditional England (pro-Thatcher) and a new vibrant subculture of new wave and metal. Immigration was also making the country more ethnically diverse.

14. English culture, 1980s

15. English culture, 1990s
Although England had a revival of culture in the “Cool Brittania” movement of the late 90’s with bands like Oasis, The Spice Girls, and Robbie Williams, the 90’s were less economically or culturally eventful, though the country continued to become more multicultural through immigration.

16. The England of Harry Potter
Despite its magical elements, the English setting of Harry Potter is still fairly conservative, with traditional families and little ethnic diversity.
The novels evade much of the cultural splits in England and its punk/ new wave/ movements by creating a different ‘wizard’ world.
Class is still an important socioeconomic distinction in England, though weaker than in earlier decades. There is little working class poverty in Harry Potter despite Rowling’s past.

17. The Schools of Harry Potter
Not all English parents can afford to send their children to a boarding school, but much of the architecture and traditions in them are like Hogwarts
Victorian / Gothic architecture
School outfits
Headmasters and strict discipline
Houses and house tables and traditions
Violent rugby (instead of Quidditch)