[HPFGU-OTChatter] PS vs. SS (was: Am I realy British HBP US / UK Differences)

[Ladi lyndi]

Kathryn Cawte  wrote:
 
But more importantly the Philosopher's Stone is an 'actual' mythical artifact (uh does that make sense). She didn't invent the damn thing so they should hve kept the name. It would be like writing about the Holy Grail and having to retitle it the Holy Cup because Anerican kids wouldn't know wht a Grail was (and btw I don't get that. I admit I don't have kids but do British 7 year olds bandy the word Philiospher around in conversation? or rather did they before HP? bcause if not why keep it for the UK and change it for the US?)


Lynn:
 
My understanding is that Scholastic changed it because they did not think American kids would be interested in a Philosopher's Stone but would be attracted to a Sorcerer's Stone.  I believe this to be a jaded though accurate assessment.  Too many children are left on their own to pick their reading material and they just wouldn't be attracted to a book with Philosopher in the title.  This book wasn't targeted at 7 year olds when it first came out.  It was targeted at the 10-13 audience I believe.  I'm sure Scholastic execs felt that American kids would see the title and think that this Harry person was looking for the rock Socrates sat on to teach.  A Sorcerer's stone, however, would seem exciting.
 
Also, if you look at the types of changes made in the first book compared to book 6, you can see Scholastic tried to make it much easier for the kids to understand but, I think, also to attract the most readers.  That's why I believe the description of Dean Thomas was put in the American version - to tell kids this wasn't just about a bunch of white English kids.
 
Would the series have been as popular in the US without those changes?  In hindsight it is easy to say yes.  However, if the publisher couldn't get the kids to read it to begin with due to simple things like the title, unfamiliar vocabulary or even the alienation of certain groups of readers, it may not have been the phenomenon it has grown into.  How many people were attracted to the books due to the first movie?  Would that movie had been made if the series hadn't taken off the way it did?  By the way, is the movie called PS or SS in the US?
 
Is it, as someone mentioned at Accio, insulting to the American public?  Yes, but, again, I think that unfortunately it was also an accurate assessment.  After all, it is Americans who gave the world Jerry Springer.  Though, I have to also question the countries who thought this was a good show to import.  Imagine my surprise when I saw Jerry on Dutch TV.  LOL  
 


 

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