So much has been written about 'Harry Potter' as a social phenomenon, and although I love the books I can't help wondering whether, in 100 years time, anyone apart from Social Historians will even know JK Rowling's name.
Now I realise that the Internet, gloablisation of brands, cinema and what-have-you have all allowed Harry to become much bigger than would previously have been possible.
However, putting the above to one side, have there been any examples of books (or other social phenomenon) which made an 'enormous' stir at the time but are nowhere to be seen now? Anyone care to nominate the one(s) that has/have come closest?
2006-07-04 02:15:52 · 13 answers · asked by BlogsALot 1 in Social Science ➔ Sociology
Probably Edgar Rice Burroughs who wrote the Tarzan, Barsoom and Pellucidar series of books - immensely popular at the time now largely unread. Also, Frank L. Baum's works, who wrote among others the Wizard of Oz. What fate awaits Harry Potter is uncertain but the fact that it is itself highly derivative may well keep people coming back for more.
2006-07-04 02:36:46 · answer #1 · answered by zoomjet 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Think Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and indeed any popular story ever - they are all the same.
Gandalf = Yoda = Dumbledore
Frodo = Luke Skywalker = Harry Potter
Sam = Han Solo = Ron Weasley
The Ring = The Force = Magic
Please have a look at the link:
2006-07-04 09:21:26 · answer #2 · answered by FairyHoaxster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Harry Potter is unique. I'm a total dork, lol, but I'm kinda pissed about waiting till '07 for the new book...so what does a die hard like me do? Start reading the series over again. Something tells me I'm not the only one like this in relation to Harry Potter. I see the direction her books are going and quite frankly I think she could go on and on writing Harry books. (ex: vold. can continue to be HP's nemeses even after school...there could be new characters, plots and they (the books) could even continue if HP dies.) I think it will be remembered. People who love these books will pass them to their children and so on.
Of mice and men....little women...even the bible are all examples of great books by great writers that have hung around.
2006-07-04 09:23:10 · answer #3 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
star wars but potter has not gotten that big yet never will. star wars has a library full of books branching off from the main story, a long list of video games going back to the 80's and various other cult followings. jedi order religions and the rest. I love anything star wars. Potter games are lame. i never played but they don't have the depth or the gumption of blasters and light sabers. Potter never killed nobody. it's got potential to be good but it was marketed to lil kids.
2006-07-04 09:23:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As for books:
The last thing my son's were interested in reading before Harry Potter was R.L. Stine's Goosebumps books... which doesn't even come close.
Those darn Beanie Babies were the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.
2006-07-14 12:12:35 · answer #5 · answered by nimbleminx 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Archie and friends
Elvis Presley
Beatles
Led Zeppelin(I still hear them)
Dev Anand(classical Indian Actor)
Rajesh Khanna(another Indian Actor from 80s)
2006-07-04 09:19:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The mister monday storie is about magic
2006-07-04 11:07:09 · answer #7 · answered by SOFTBALL247 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there has been other fads, but I can't find a single series of books that has caused this much of a stir.
2006-07-04 23:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by kellyrv_bsa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The da Vinci code maybe?
2006-07-04 09:18:42 · answer #9 · answered by confuzzled 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
tamagotchhi, yoyos, pogs you name it there has been a fad and this one will probably lead to smarter kids.
2006-07-04 09:18:09 · answer #10 · answered by JARLAB 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋