Episode #73: Patterns in Potter, Prisoner of Azkaban - The Pit of Despair
In this week’s episode, we finished our discussion on the theme of emotion in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. We talked about the Dementors and their effect on the soul, as well as their antidote: the Patronus, and the necessary requirements to conjure one. This was actually an off the cuff, un-planned discussion and we really like what we came up with (not to toot our own horns).
We had some voicemails and we urge you to keep sending them, as well as your comments, in!We also discussed the news about the Deathly Hallows Movie being split into two.
Finally, Greg made an exciting work-related (yet not completely HPProgs unrelated) announcement (hint, check out http://beta.odeo.com/) that we look forward to sharing with all of you!
If you want to send in voicemails you can call 206-337-0357 in the US or 07092899490 in the UK. As always, we look forward to hearing your comments, thoughts, and suggestions. Be in touch!
You can listen to the podcast with the player below, or download it directly as an mp3.
Tags: emotions, Harry Potter, modernity, Patterns in Potter, poa, Prisoner of Azkaban, religion, soul
March 20th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Yes! I’m about to listen to it!
March 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
No problem Penny, I will send another one as soon as I can. Don’t kill yourself over it!
March 20th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Congrats Greg, well earned and deserved. Great show especially off the cuff. The only question I had is what’s a tucas? Is it that thing Penny ordered from China? Watch out for lead paint. Glad to hear you feeling better Penny.
March 21st, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Great show you guys! I loved it. I just wanted to point something out. Emotions that control most people, harry seems able to harness. For instance, the depression that the dementors cause. Harry learns how to use it to protect himself from dementors. Then in book seven, Harry uses grief to keep Voldemort out of his mind, and to make the right decision. So Harry seems to be able to use emotions that usually pull you down, to pick himself up.
March 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Hey guys! I love your show.You guys are so cute.Um………. I just wanted to say that I love your show even though I have listening to you guys for only 4 episodes.So keep on Prognosticating.
BYE!!!!!!!!
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:15 pm
i dont know if it is just my computer but when i download the podcast on itunes the first time it was 5 minutes long so i erased it and tried to download it again but it did not come up any suggestions?
March 22nd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
You seem to have a lot of trouble downloading, don’t you? Maybe you should listen on the blog, it might easier.
March 22nd, 2008 at 9:26 pm
I would suggest making sure you are subscribed to HPProgs in iTunes (rather than just visiting our page). If you’re subscribed, iTunes will check out site directly every now and again to download new episodes. If you’re already subscribed and having problems, I would try deleting the feed and resubscribing, or just listening on the web page.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:33 am
thanks guys yeah i deleted and resuscribed and its working fine now thanks
March 24th, 2008 at 9:18 am
I was wondering, at the end of Patterns in Potter, are you going to do an episode summarizing it? Because that would be really cool.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:02 am
rosie: Sure!
March 24th, 2008 at 10:56 am
should we be expectig a podcast today
March 24th, 2008 at 11:12 am
I hope we can be, but I don’t think we should be. It’s only been four days since that last amazing podcast, and to make another amazing, intelligent podcast so soon after might be expecting too much!
March 24th, 2008 at 11:53 am
ah hem! What is that word? sycophant?
March 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am
now, you have found a word to which I don’t now the definition. congratulations, I’m recording the date and time as I write this.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
sycophant means a person who flatters people to try to get respect from them. (its greek)
March 25th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Penny taught me that word and has used it in a few podcast.
March 25th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
shows how much i was paying attention those episodes. I think i remember it vaguely.
March 26th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hey guys! Haven’t got a chance to listen to this episode yet, planning on it today, but I wanted to show you this article:
http://thedaily.washington.edu/2007/5/29/harry-potter-goes-to-college/
Harry Potter classes? It ought to be an interesting topic for debate. I love Harry Potter, but a university course? Not sure how I feel about that. I suppose if you can take a course to speak Klingon (SP???) or Elvish, this isn’t too off the mark.
Anyhow, I thought you guys might enjoy this!
March 26th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
I might take them if I was there anyway and had some extra time,but I don’t know.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
It doesn’t surprise me that schools would offer courses like that. (A friend of mine wants to go to Oxford, where you can shimmy a few course titles and pretty much study Tolkien exclusively.) Once you’ve heard of schools offering courses like “How to Get Dressed,” not much makes you blink anymore.
March 26th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I teach Harry Potter and the SS to freshmen in high school, and if I taught college level I would teach it there as well. Don’t we all attend the course that Penny and Greg (and listeners) teach us every week? This podcast is a graduate level course, in my opinion. I’ve said it from my first time listening to the Penny and Greg. And what’s more — it’s free! I take what I learn here and apply it to my class. So thank you all, and at the risk of being a sycophant, thank you Penny and Greg!
March 26th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I teach Harry Potter and the SS to freshmen in high school, and if I taught college level I would teach it there as well. Don’t we all attend the course that Penny and Greg (and listeners) teach us every week? This podcast is a graduate level course, in my opinion. I’ve said it from my first time listening to the Penny and Greg. And what’s more — it’s free! I take what I learn here and apply it to my class. So thank you all, and at the risk of being a sycophant, thank you Penny and Greg you are brilliant!
March 26th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
We always allow sycophantic comments here. Especially ones that call us brilliant!!
March 26th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Well, if this is a course, than I’m glad it doesn’t have any homework!
March 26th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
Amen
March 26th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Gotta third that sentiment…
March 26th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
There was a commercial on the Disney Channel for their wizard show and the kids were wearing costumes noticable similar to HP- the glasses, robes, vest, striped tie, crest on robe. It wasn’t very long but they mentioned wizard school so it looks like this stuff was related to the plot. I’m wondering if there should be any copyright concerns.
Then again, since it is Disney, they probably checked (?).
You never know though.
I still don’t like the idea of doing that anyway.
March 28th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
If they infringe on Jo’s rights, and she has to start another legal battle, I will be seriously pissed off. How will she get any writing done if all she does is go to court.
March 29th, 2008 at 12:10 am
Hi guys. Thanks for the interesting episode. I like the idea that JKR intentionally integrated the “soul” with “emotional/mental health” as you pointed out re: the dementors. As Greg mentioned, those things haven’t traditionally been brought together (at least in recent times) and I think there is a need to connect these things and a growing acceptance within the fields of psychology and theology that this a more complete understanding of how people work.
It’s interesting that there’s been more talk of JKR’s depression and how she worked to get out of it since your podcast! I love how in Harry’s story, the Patronus works to repel the dementors and protect whoever cast it, and casting one requires a focus on good, happy thoughts. Sounds familiar to the cognitive-behavioral therapy JKR used to climb out of her depression! And I think it’s neat that Harry fills his mind with those he LOVES to cast his Patronus. There’s nothing like connected-ness and community to fill up your heart and soul and to protect you from sadness and despair.
Anyway, good thought-provoking stuff. Thanks!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:26 am
re: Harry Potter college courses - there are actually lots of these. I took one just for fun a few years ago, and next week I’m guest lecturing at a Harry Potter a Philosophy course offered at LaSalle University in Philly.