Harry Potter is not just for children as adults have an “emotional attachment” to the series, according to a leading journalist.
It follows comments made this week by Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the book’s film adaptions, that adult fans of the series need to ‘grow up’.
On Moncrieff today, Geek Ireland editor Olivia Fahy said she disagreed with the actors’ thoughts.
“I wonder would she say the same about Mary Poppins or the Sound of Music and other things like that made for children,” she said.
“People dress up as Mary Poppins still to this day, even at Dublin Comic Con.
“Is this something people need to grow up from? I’m not so sure she’d have the same attitude to something like that.”’
Forever popular
Ms Fahy said Harry Potter, which was first published in 1997, will remain forever popular.
“The target audience was children but it was written in a clever way to make sure adults were still engaged enough for them to be able to read these stories to their children,” she said.
“There is this nostalgic and emotional attachment to the stories because people have fond memories to go along with them.
“I know people who are in their late 30s or early 40s and they would read the books around Christmas or do a big marathon of the movies at certain points of the year.
“It brings a sense of comfort and if you try to take that away from people they’re going to fight back.”
Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout (left). Image: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Fahy said it is okay for people to love “geeky and nerdy” things.
“I know people who have scarves from Harry Potter houses like Hufflepuff or Slytherin and stuff like that and they would wear them as outdoor attire," she said.
“It’s not quite being full on Dumbledore or Doctor Who but it is incorporating the fandom you lean towards into your everyday life.
“It wouldn’t be noticeable unless you really knew what it was.”
Ms Fahy questioned why dressing up as a Harry Potter character is looked at differently than when people dress up as Ulysses' characters on Bloomsday.
Main image: Harry, Ron and Hermione in the Order of the Phoneix. Image: Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo
