by Rochelle Foulk

Created on: November 23, 2010

Opening night, Thursday at 12:01 am, two roped lines are awaiting the hundreds of fans reporting for the next installment of the Harry Potter series. AMC 24, in Awatukee, Arizona, split two lines between 10 theaters and made sure that every concession stand was manned by an eager salesperson to brew coffee, pop the popcorn and refresh ice cold $4.25 drinks. The only theater left to buy tickets was number 11; gratefully we paid our $10.50 tickets and followed the throng of wand carrying Gryffindor’s to the theater. Among the guests listed tonight Severus Snape appeared in muggle clothing, while many Hermoine’s flocked together practicing the levitation charm, Wingardium Leviosa.

Truly a miraculous event for the literacy rate in America during the 1980’s was astoundingly low. One in four adults couldn’t read. When Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part One premiered it grossed the highest in the Franchise history at $61.5 Million on Friday. The millions of fans that saw their favorite witches and wizards battle the ultimate evil did not show up because of a great advertising campaign. These fans are avid readers, creating a worldwide jump in literacy rates over the last decade and a half (UNESCO, February 1991).

True, the latest Harry Potter (grossing $125) did not beat the Dark Knight opening weekend at $158 million, but is that the point? From the view of corporate giants, perhaps, however the real phenomenon is thousands of people believe in the story. The next installment of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows releases July 2011 where we may well see another record breaking event.  Not just another “good triumphs over evil but a gut wrenching, decision making, and brave trio of heroes that fight for truth, love, and friendship. Whether you follow a caped crusader or a four-eyed wand waver the real bravery comes in living by principles. While current debates over educational systems, Teacher unions, and public healthcare are dominating the airwaves, a subtle change is taking place all over the world. J.K. Rowling has lit a torch, igniting the imaginations and hope of children, followed closely by Twilight’s author, Stephanie Meyer and the Lemony Snicket’s Baldaire orphans. The fate of the magical and muggle world may lay on Harry’s shoulders but is their humble creator who is leading the children into a belief system, that Love is the greatest force we possess.

Sources: http://nces.ed.gov/naal/lit_history.asp

http://www.worldwideboxoffice.com/

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