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Harry Potter- Social Justice Study Abroad Course to Scotland and England
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Harry Potter Study Abroad Course to Scotland and England

October 1, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – For the first time at Western Illinois University, students can enter a world of wizardry and magic by exploring Harry Potter in its social, cultural and educational context and understand some of the reasons for its popularity through "The World of Harry Potter: Magic, The United Kingdom and Social Justice", a study abroad course to Scotland and England.

The course is offered during the Spring 2016 semester.
Students will examine the cultural and historical background of the novels and how they shaped the creation of the series. In particular, students will discuss the relevance of Great Britain to Harry Potter and make connections between Harry Potter and issues of social justice.

"The course was started because I was talking with students about Harry Potter and all the ways in which the series impacted and influenced their lives. I know there is a large Harry Potter fan base and following and much of that is because of how the series deals with strong issues of social justice and schooling," said Assistant Professor Rebekah Buchanan.

Traveling to the United Kingdom, the class will explore the sites and places where J.K. Rowling wrote and created Harry Potter, as well as explore the places Rowling used as inspiration and the places created by directors to recreated Rowling's world. In addition, by reading and examining Harry Potter in the United Kingdom, the class will discuss how Harry Potter's world was shaped by the culture of England and Scotland, and the long histories there.

Class excursions will include looking deeper into the history of relevant places in both the novels and the films as well as their importance in creating the world of Harry Potter. In visiting England and Scotland the class will become part of the lived worlds of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling and reflect on how these experiences impact our reading of the texts.

An information session will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13 in Simpkins Hall, room 220. A film screening of "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" will follow the meeting.
Those who are interested in attending but can't make an informational meeting can contact either Buchanan at rj-buchanan@wiu.edu or Kim McDaniel, academic advisor in the Office of Study Abroad, at kd-mcdaniel@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Caitlin Meyers (WIUNews@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing