Discussing the Essay
My project is centered around Harry Potter and the phenomenon it has become. The question I am asking is: Whom does Harry Potter belong to? Harry Potter has branched out to so many different forms of media today. It is a book, book-on-tape, movie, computer game, video game, action figures, legos, and a theme park. Not to mention the numerous fan fiction that has been written about it. J.K. Rowling herself has sold the rights to Harry Potter to Warner Brothers and Hasbro. Is she still the "real" owner of Harry Potter? What about the legion of loyal fans? Don't they have some right to it after all these years?
Some people may think that, of course, J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter. She created him, and created the magical world that everyone knows and loves. Even if she sold the rights to her work does not mean she is not the real owner. On the other hand, some people will argue that creating something does not necessarily mean that she owns it. Were all of her ideas original? Probably not. In fact, there have been several lawsuits brought against her saying that she stole someone's idea. You can compare Harry Potter very similarly to Lord of the Rings, but that doesn't mean that she was actively trying to make it similar to that story.
I will incorporate Lessig's Remix Culture when I address this argument in my essay. Does remixing something make it yours? If that is the case then Harry Potter belongs to many people. Including J.K. Rowling and the fans alike.
Whom does Harry Potter belong to?
0 Response to "Discussing the Essay"
Post a Comment