The Harry Potter Experience

[kempermentor]

> Potioncat:
> There are 7 HP books and 3 companian books written by JKR; there are short pieces done for charity; there is the JKR web site. ... Fans have written papers, writen fiction, created art, organized events, and managed web sites. Is there more?

Kemper now:
There are podcasts.
 
> With all this HP stuff out there, what is your Harry Potter experience? ...What have you participated in or looked at? What defines the HP experience for you? Do your friends and family have the same experience? Do they tolerate your interest, or do you hide it? And how are you managing now that the books are done?

Kemper now:
I participate/lurk on Main and Movie.  When I discuss HP in RL it is only canon.  I treat the movies as visual fanfic and so don't refer to it.  I have used the books therapeutically with some youth fans whom I've come across in work.  But that was some time ago.

My family, mom, sibs, wife, and inlaws have all read the books.  They are passive, quiet fans.  Some of my friends have read the series, they too are free from fandom.  I do not hide my nerd, my geek.  I make it look risickulously bad ass.  And that endears them and strangers to me.

The books, as fun as they are, are only books.  Yet they are books that I'm grateful for, as they were the gateway drug into other fandoms.

Kemper