The Harry Potter series : transmedia and participation

Abstract

Technology and various new media have changed the way society experiences fictional stories. Reading is an activity which does not stop when the book is closed; readers can participate in a culture which surrounds fictional narratives. By watching a film adaptation, writing fan fiction, or interacting with other users on the internet, readers can acquire new literacy skills. The skills acquired through participatory culture are analysed by taking the Harry Potter series as a case study. This dissertation looks at the Harry Potter series as a transmedia narrative, and puts emphasis on both fan-produced material and official material surrounding the Harry Potter novels, in order to demonstrate how these skills are best attained through a combination of the two.