down the avenue: Harry Potter Fandom in Action

FAVORITE QUOTES

Only Those Who See the Invisible, Can Do The Impossible
The Age of your Heart is the Age of what you Love - Marcel Prévost
Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I'll understand.
When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one opening before us. -Helen Keller
The sole meaning of life is to serve humanity. -Leo Tolstoy
Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets. -Paul Tournier
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel. -Carl W. Buechner
Just trust yourself, then you will know how to live. -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
The foolish reject what they see, the wise reject what they think
Imagination is more important than knowledge - Albert Einstein
When you realize nothing is lacking, the whole world belongs to you - Lao-tzu
The world surrenders to a quiet mind
It is a funny thing about life: If you refuse to accept anything but the best you very often get it - Somerset Maugham
"At the moment of commitment, the universe conspires to assist you." Goethe

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July 26, 2009

Harry Potter Fandom in Action

If you set foot in the Parc55 Hotel last week looking for a bunch of geeks participating in a mobile event, you would have been surprised to see a lobby full of young women and girls and hundreds of others dressed to the nines in whatever Harry Potter character they most resonated with.

The Harry Potter annual gathering, know as the AZKATRAZ convention drew people in from New Zealand, Canada, Germany, England and our Orlando, Washington, New York and Dallas.

The woman I first started talking to was interrupted when a woman in full garb came rushing over and said to her, "you look familiar." She asked for her Harry Potter handle and then there was immediate recognition followed by a hug. And then, a lot of chatter as if they were long lost cousins who had not seen each other since a childhood family reunion.

I was so drawn in that I couldn't leave and the attendees didn't want me to. Do you know the difference between an Anapneo and Animagus? Do you know enough to be the smartest quizzard in Hogwarts?

There was a quiz later night for the die hards, hosted by Wes Kauble from Ten Dollar Trivia, the most original gameshow on YouTube.com

Also promoted to Harry Potter fans was ArtInsights new "Witches and Wizards of Harry Potter" limited edition sets with specially selected images of actors featured in the movie series.

The schedule is intense I learn from several sources. In addition to more serious sessions on issues that come up in everyday life, they held at Merlin's Circle Reception, had a pajama party, and a Prison Break Ball.

Other notable sessions included how to podcast; roleplaying games; the Art of Azkaban; Making and modifying patterns for costuming; Queers in the Wizarding World and...; Harry Potter in communities of color; Making money through fandom; Feminism & Romance; Fighting the Slytherin Stereotype (the Slytherins stood on one side of the lobby socializing while the others stood on the opposite end and there was a notable separation); Harry Potter and social justice; Harry & Tarot; A Wrock Opera and the Phenomenon of Wizard Rock.

I shot some video which you should definitely tune into for more insight into the way Potter fans think. It's a whole new world, I found myself thinking again and again. Below are some shots I took of fandom in action at AZKATRAZ 2009.