Summaries Giveaway Round IV
This is it.
Our last free summaries post.
The deadline for programming proposals to Phoenix Rising is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 4, 2006. That's Saturday. If you've been procrastinating, procrastinate no more!
The summaries below have been written specifically as roundtable discussions on characters. None of these topics has yet been submitted, so feel free to steal one of these, or to create your own on another character. Roundtable discussions are just that -- you and about 25 other people come together (and sit in a circle) to talk about something that interests you all. You can either write up to 500 additional words of abstract to support your summary, or come up with a list of questions that you'd ask while moderating the discussion to substitute for an abstract. Of course, any of these summaries and titles can be taken as they are or modified to meet your interests and presentation style. Check out our previous posts on programming for many additional topics and a list of people seeking collaborators.
Reminder: We will have one more last-minute live chat for those of you who want someone to cheer you on as you send your proposal just before the submissions system closes, and for any last minute questions.
Saturday, November 4
9 - 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Location: Phoenix Rising Chat (closed until chat time)
On to the summaries! (Free to good homes.)
1. Terrifying Tom: Amoral or Immoral
Prior to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J. K. Rowling's portrait of Tom Riddle was unclear. How did he progress from boy to Lord Voldemort? How wicked was he while he was at Hogwarts? Was he a talented boy who merely let power rule him? In Half-Blood Prince, however, Rowling clearly paints Riddle as evil from the start, certainly touching on both the sociopathic and the immoral. Was this necessary to the series, this creation of a thoroughly evil character? Would Harry's battle with Voldemort have lost something if Tom were, instead, amoral, misguided and power-mad?
2. "Sister, Sister, Sister
There were never such devoted sisters: Bellatrix to Voldemort, Narcissa to her son, and Andromeda to her husband Ted (despite the views of her family regarding anyone not a pure-blooded wizard). In many ways, each sister represents a different facet of devotion, from the criminal to the familial, and each facet represents what may be her greatest flaw. What do we really know about the Black sisters--and will we ever meet Andromeda? Will Bellatrix's support of Voldemort, Narcissa's fear for Draco's life, Andromeda's parting from Black family bring about their demise?
3. I Smell a Rat: Peter Pettrigrew and Harry Potter Fandom
In Peter Pettrigrew, J. K. Rowling obviously crafted a major piece to her puzzle. A member of the Marauders, Lily and James's Secret Keeper, and Lord Voldemort's most loyal servant, Peter's story is woven throughout the series. Yet, fans spurn him, even going so far as to write him completely out of stories and timelines. In a fandom that embraces Severus Snape (whose loyalties are unclear, but whose bitterness and caustic tongue aren't) and the Malfoys (who revel in their elitism and position with the Dark Lord), why is Peter so scorned?
4. Percy Weasley, You Prat
Fans of the Harry Potter series often speak of character redemption -- but usually apply it to Draco Malfoy. This roundtable will, instead, focus on a character who was originally "good" and who has never really been evil: Percy Weasley. What caused Percy to abandon his family loyalties for the service of the Ministry? What has kept him there? Power? Prestige? A love of rules? What role does Percy still have to play in a series that very much revolves around family and loyalty? Will he return to the embrace of his family? And before he does, will his adopted loyalties aid the Dark Lord? Is Percy the prodigal son, a future Death Eater, or just an expendable character due to be on the wrong side of a Killing Curse in book seven?
5. Dumbledore's Wake
Once upon a time, J. K. Rowling wrote a hero's journey. And like all hero's journeys, she soon began removing all the forces that shaped the hero, from his safe places to his mentors. Eventually, she removed the central father figure from the hero's life, and with it, irrevocably changed the hero's favorite place in the world. What role does Dumbledore's death play in the traditional hero's journey? Is it necessary? Was it necessary in this series at this time? What will the resistance be like without him? What will Hogwarts be like without him? What will Harry be like without him...and is he really dead?
6. Dead Means Dead! Doesn't It?
In a book with as many characters as the Harry Potter series, someone was bound to die. In novels founded on one war and culminating in another, lots of people were bound to die. In a story based on the traditional hero's journey, people important to the central character were bound to die. Yet, in a magical world that includes ghosts and Inferi, we always hope that dead doesn't really mean dead. J. K. Rowling has never given us reason, however, to believe that death is anything other than impermanent -- though she's stated publically that the dead do not return, Rowling is known for misdirection regarding details of unpublished books. We have yet to see a living character become a ghost and certainly no one would wish for the fate of an Inferi. Dead means dead, despite glimpses from wands and Mirrors of Erised, but what does that say about hope?
7. "He's still god be!": The Heroism of Neville, Luna and Ginny
The first four books of the Harry Potter series unquestionably created a trio. Harry, Ron and Hermione were more powerful, more clever and more effective together than apart. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, though, J. K. Rowling created a new trio, a group ostracized by either the Hogwarts student body or the original trio itself. Yet, in Order of the Phoenix, Neville, Luna and Ginny proved themselves to be as clever, as powerful and as brave as the original trio -- while also adding their own special strengths. What motivated J. K. Rowling's expansion of the ranks, if you will? And what do the characters of Neville, Luna and Ginny say about being a hero?
8. Flinching in the Face of Evil: Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy, more than any other character, has enjoyed a rabid online following while remaining fairly minor in the Harry Potter series itself, at least until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While previously he was limited to Son of Death Eater, Nominal Archenemy, and Ooooooh Inquisitorial Squad Member, Draco's plot finally emerged. Charged with killing Dumbledore, Draco failed. Instead, his early attempts were amateurish and in his last attempt, before he spoke the Killing Curse -- or perhaps after he had determined that he couldn't -- Snape, bound by an Unbreakable Vow, took the decision away from him. Where does Draco's motivation lie on the spectrum between his father's dark devotion and his mother's love? And where is he headed?
9. Snape, Black, and Lupin -- well, you probably know more about them than I do. Bring on the discussion!
10. Granger on the Verge
Her greatest fear is failure. She's a know-it-all who doesn't know that she's leading Professor Umbridge into disaster in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that Marietta would betray Dumbledore's Army, or that she's managed to get a cat hair for her Polyjuice Potion (rather than one of Millicent Bulstrode's). With a boggart related to failing all her classes, her disappointment over just missing perfect O.W.L. scores, and the very real possibility that she won't always be able to protect her friends from harm, is Hermione close to the breaking point? This discussion will address Hermione's strengths and flaws, and what we can expect from her in the fight to come.
Bonus summary 11. Ambition, Power and Manipulation: Slytherin House
J. K. Rowling's vehement views on power and ambition come into play not only in her Ministry of Magic characters, but in her depiction of Slytherin House. While some of the bias can certainly be attributed to Harry's limited third-person point of view, the string of jerks, sycophants and bullies that comes out of Slytherin House transcends merely Harry's perception. Is Slytherin House nothing but selfish, manipulative louts? Is ambition inherently bad? And if not, why does J. K. Rowling portray it so one-dimensionally?
Bonus summary 12. Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall, Ron Weasley's the Most Stubborn of Them All
No one has stood more stubbornly by Harry though his annual trials. No one has provided a more welcoming door to the wizarding world. No one has been a more wonderfully human character in the books. Yet, so frequently Ron's jealousy overwhelms his loyalty, Hermione's cleverness subsumes his wizarding knowledge, and Harry's fame overrides his nurturing family. While Harry shines and Hermione flashes her brilliance, Ron quietly -- some might say, barely -- glows. Come discuss J. K. Rowling's portrayal of Ron, and his love-him-or-hate-him presence.
Bonus summary 13. Ginny Weasley: Hot or Not?
Do you play Quidditch? Are you a sucker for a good Bat-Bogey Hex? Do you melt in the face of fire-red hair and warm brown eyes? Ginny Weasley may be the girl for you. Ex-girlfriend, Quidditch player, DA member. Love her or loathe her, Ginny has the ability to split fans, destroy ships and break Michael Corner -- I mean, Dean Thomas -- no, sorry, Harry Potter's heart. But in the bright glow of Ginny's newly outgoing personality, there's a dark seed of doubt: is she just a thinly-veiled "Mary Sue"? Join us for a discussion of the youngest Weasley and help us decide...Ginny Weasley: Hot or Not?
Bonus summary 14. Go, go, Gryffindor!
Does your heart beat with the roar of a lion? Are you brave, proud, courageous, and perhaps a little foolish? This roundtable will discuss all aspects of Gryffindor House, from past housemates to present, Heads of House Godric Gryffindor to Minerva McGonagall, and the roles Gryffindor students other than the Trio will play in Book Seven.
Remember, if you want to see any of these roundtables -- or others that you're interested in -- on the programming schedule at Phoenix Rising, they have to be submitted to be considered.
Best of luck! We look forward to receiving your proposals.
Our last free summaries post.
The deadline for programming proposals to Phoenix Rising is 11:59 p.m. Eastern on November 4, 2006. That's Saturday. If you've been procrastinating, procrastinate no more!
The summaries below have been written specifically as roundtable discussions on characters. None of these topics has yet been submitted, so feel free to steal one of these, or to create your own on another character. Roundtable discussions are just that -- you and about 25 other people come together (and sit in a circle) to talk about something that interests you all. You can either write up to 500 additional words of abstract to support your summary, or come up with a list of questions that you'd ask while moderating the discussion to substitute for an abstract. Of course, any of these summaries and titles can be taken as they are or modified to meet your interests and presentation style. Check out our previous posts on programming for many additional topics and a list of people seeking collaborators.
Reminder: We will have one more last-minute live chat for those of you who want someone to cheer you on as you send your proposal just before the submissions system closes, and for any last minute questions.
Saturday, November 4
9 - 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
Location: Phoenix Rising Chat (closed until chat time)
On to the summaries! (Free to good homes.)
1. Terrifying Tom: Amoral or Immoral
Prior to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J. K. Rowling's portrait of Tom Riddle was unclear. How did he progress from boy to Lord Voldemort? How wicked was he while he was at Hogwarts? Was he a talented boy who merely let power rule him? In Half-Blood Prince, however, Rowling clearly paints Riddle as evil from the start, certainly touching on both the sociopathic and the immoral. Was this necessary to the series, this creation of a thoroughly evil character? Would Harry's battle with Voldemort have lost something if Tom were, instead, amoral, misguided and power-mad?
2. "Sister, Sister, Sister
There were never such devoted sisters: Bellatrix to Voldemort, Narcissa to her son, and Andromeda to her husband Ted (despite the views of her family regarding anyone not a pure-blooded wizard). In many ways, each sister represents a different facet of devotion, from the criminal to the familial, and each facet represents what may be her greatest flaw. What do we really know about the Black sisters--and will we ever meet Andromeda? Will Bellatrix's support of Voldemort, Narcissa's fear for Draco's life, Andromeda's parting from Black family bring about their demise?
3. I Smell a Rat: Peter Pettrigrew and Harry Potter Fandom
In Peter Pettrigrew, J. K. Rowling obviously crafted a major piece to her puzzle. A member of the Marauders, Lily and James's Secret Keeper, and Lord Voldemort's most loyal servant, Peter's story is woven throughout the series. Yet, fans spurn him, even going so far as to write him completely out of stories and timelines. In a fandom that embraces Severus Snape (whose loyalties are unclear, but whose bitterness and caustic tongue aren't) and the Malfoys (who revel in their elitism and position with the Dark Lord), why is Peter so scorned?
4. Percy Weasley, You Prat
Fans of the Harry Potter series often speak of character redemption -- but usually apply it to Draco Malfoy. This roundtable will, instead, focus on a character who was originally "good" and who has never really been evil: Percy Weasley. What caused Percy to abandon his family loyalties for the service of the Ministry? What has kept him there? Power? Prestige? A love of rules? What role does Percy still have to play in a series that very much revolves around family and loyalty? Will he return to the embrace of his family? And before he does, will his adopted loyalties aid the Dark Lord? Is Percy the prodigal son, a future Death Eater, or just an expendable character due to be on the wrong side of a Killing Curse in book seven?
5. Dumbledore's Wake
Once upon a time, J. K. Rowling wrote a hero's journey. And like all hero's journeys, she soon began removing all the forces that shaped the hero, from his safe places to his mentors. Eventually, she removed the central father figure from the hero's life, and with it, irrevocably changed the hero's favorite place in the world. What role does Dumbledore's death play in the traditional hero's journey? Is it necessary? Was it necessary in this series at this time? What will the resistance be like without him? What will Hogwarts be like without him? What will Harry be like without him...and is he really dead?
6. Dead Means Dead! Doesn't It?
In a book with as many characters as the Harry Potter series, someone was bound to die. In novels founded on one war and culminating in another, lots of people were bound to die. In a story based on the traditional hero's journey, people important to the central character were bound to die. Yet, in a magical world that includes ghosts and Inferi, we always hope that dead doesn't really mean dead. J. K. Rowling has never given us reason, however, to believe that death is anything other than impermanent -- though she's stated publically that the dead do not return, Rowling is known for misdirection regarding details of unpublished books. We have yet to see a living character become a ghost and certainly no one would wish for the fate of an Inferi. Dead means dead, despite glimpses from wands and Mirrors of Erised, but what does that say about hope?
7. "He's still god be!": The Heroism of Neville, Luna and Ginny
The first four books of the Harry Potter series unquestionably created a trio. Harry, Ron and Hermione were more powerful, more clever and more effective together than apart. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, though, J. K. Rowling created a new trio, a group ostracized by either the Hogwarts student body or the original trio itself. Yet, in Order of the Phoenix, Neville, Luna and Ginny proved themselves to be as clever, as powerful and as brave as the original trio -- while also adding their own special strengths. What motivated J. K. Rowling's expansion of the ranks, if you will? And what do the characters of Neville, Luna and Ginny say about being a hero?
8. Flinching in the Face of Evil: Draco Malfoy
Draco Malfoy, more than any other character, has enjoyed a rabid online following while remaining fairly minor in the Harry Potter series itself, at least until Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. While previously he was limited to Son of Death Eater, Nominal Archenemy, and Ooooooh Inquisitorial Squad Member, Draco's plot finally emerged. Charged with killing Dumbledore, Draco failed. Instead, his early attempts were amateurish and in his last attempt, before he spoke the Killing Curse -- or perhaps after he had determined that he couldn't -- Snape, bound by an Unbreakable Vow, took the decision away from him. Where does Draco's motivation lie on the spectrum between his father's dark devotion and his mother's love? And where is he headed?
9. Snape, Black, and Lupin -- well, you probably know more about them than I do. Bring on the discussion!
10. Granger on the Verge
Her greatest fear is failure. She's a know-it-all who doesn't know that she's leading Professor Umbridge into disaster in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, that Marietta would betray Dumbledore's Army, or that she's managed to get a cat hair for her Polyjuice Potion (rather than one of Millicent Bulstrode's). With a boggart related to failing all her classes, her disappointment over just missing perfect O.W.L. scores, and the very real possibility that she won't always be able to protect her friends from harm, is Hermione close to the breaking point? This discussion will address Hermione's strengths and flaws, and what we can expect from her in the fight to come.
Bonus summary 11. Ambition, Power and Manipulation: Slytherin House
J. K. Rowling's vehement views on power and ambition come into play not only in her Ministry of Magic characters, but in her depiction of Slytherin House. While some of the bias can certainly be attributed to Harry's limited third-person point of view, the string of jerks, sycophants and bullies that comes out of Slytherin House transcends merely Harry's perception. Is Slytherin House nothing but selfish, manipulative louts? Is ambition inherently bad? And if not, why does J. K. Rowling portray it so one-dimensionally?
Bonus summary 12. Mirror, Mirror, On the Wall, Ron Weasley's the Most Stubborn of Them All
No one has stood more stubbornly by Harry though his annual trials. No one has provided a more welcoming door to the wizarding world. No one has been a more wonderfully human character in the books. Yet, so frequently Ron's jealousy overwhelms his loyalty, Hermione's cleverness subsumes his wizarding knowledge, and Harry's fame overrides his nurturing family. While Harry shines and Hermione flashes her brilliance, Ron quietly -- some might say, barely -- glows. Come discuss J. K. Rowling's portrayal of Ron, and his love-him-or-hate-him presence.
Bonus summary 13. Ginny Weasley: Hot or Not?
Do you play Quidditch? Are you a sucker for a good Bat-Bogey Hex? Do you melt in the face of fire-red hair and warm brown eyes? Ginny Weasley may be the girl for you. Ex-girlfriend, Quidditch player, DA member. Love her or loathe her, Ginny has the ability to split fans, destroy ships and break Michael Corner -- I mean, Dean Thomas -- no, sorry, Harry Potter's heart. But in the bright glow of Ginny's newly outgoing personality, there's a dark seed of doubt: is she just a thinly-veiled "Mary Sue"? Join us for a discussion of the youngest Weasley and help us decide...Ginny Weasley: Hot or Not?
Bonus summary 14. Go, go, Gryffindor!
Does your heart beat with the roar of a lion? Are you brave, proud, courageous, and perhaps a little foolish? This roundtable will discuss all aspects of Gryffindor House, from past housemates to present, Heads of House Godric Gryffindor to Minerva McGonagall, and the roles Gryffindor students other than the Trio will play in Book Seven.
Remember, if you want to see any of these roundtables -- or others that you're interested in -- on the programming schedule at Phoenix Rising, they have to be submitted to be considered.
Best of luck! We look forward to receiving your proposals.