Sources: Philip Nel, 785-532-2165, philnel@k-state.edu;
Karin Westman 785-532-2190, westmank@k-state.edu; and
Rachel Parkin, 785-410-2336, parkin@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Jessica Grant, 785-532-6415, media@k-state.edu
Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
K-STATE BRINGING TOGETHER LITERATURE AND WIZARD ROCK FOR THE HALLOWS AND HORCRUXES BALL
MANHATTAN -- To some, rock 'n' roll and literacy may seem like mutually exclusive entities, but Kansas State University's The Hallows and Horcruxes Ball is bringing the two together.
The ball, from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at the K-State Student Union Ballroom, is a concert featuring six wizard rock bands — groups inspired by the popular J.K. Rowling series "Harry Potter." The event is sponsored by K-State's Children's and Adolescent Literature Community, department of English, Union Program Council and Student Governing Association, as well as the Manhattan Music Coalition.
Bands scheduled to perform include The Remus Lupins, The Parselmouths, The Moaning Myrtles, Ministry of Magic, The Mudbloods, and Ginny and the HeartBreakers. Four of the bands — The Remus Lupins, The Parselmouths, The Moaning Myrtles and Ministry of Magic — earned a spot on a top list of wizard rock distributed by MTV News in 2007.
"Wizard rock is the soundtrack created by and for fans of the Potter series," said Philip Nel, associate professor of English and director of K-State's children's literature program. "Since Harry and the Potters made their debut in 2002, wizard rock has grown swiftly. Wizard rock is a testament to the popularity of the Harry Potter series. How many books do you know that have inspired an entire musical genre?"
According to Nel, wizard rock has become a blossoming rock 'n' roll subculture in the past few years, largely aided by word-of-mouth and the Internet.
"Though the styles of music vary, the wizard rock phenomenon has a very do-it-yourself aesthetic — young people recording in a living room or basement and then posting the track on the band's MySpace page," Nel said.
Tickets to the ball, which is appropriate for all ages, are free for K-State students with their student IDs and are $12 for the public. Tickets are available at the Union Programming Council office on the third floor of the Union, by calling 785-532-6571 or online at http://www.myspace.com/ksuchalc
All proceeds from the ball will be donated to First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides disadvantaged children with new books.
"I first learned about wizard rock in fall 2005 when I was teaching our department's class on Harry Potter and I attended a spirited performance by Harry and the Potters at the Dusty Bookshelf in Aggieville," said Karin Westman, associate professor and head of the K-State department of English. Westman also is faculty adviser to the Children's and Adolescent Literature Community and co-organizer of The Hallows and Horcruxes Ball.
"After seeing other wizard rock bands at Prophecy 2007, an international conference on Harry Potter in Toronto last August, I thought K-State students and the Manhattan community should have the opportunity to experience wizard rock and its commitment to literacy," Westman said
"There is such a sense of community among the bands, as well as a strong sense of purpose," said Rachel Parkin, a K-State graduate student in English, Olathe, and co-president of the Children's and Adolescent Literature Community and a ball co-organizer. "The bands' activism in encouraging literacy and supporting charitable groups is inspiring. The Children's and Adolescent Literature Community is excited to bring six such talented Wizard Rock groups to K-State."
"Wizard rock demonstrates the incredible effect that Rowling's series has upon readers of all ages," Westman said. "They are inspired to create an art of their own that promotes key themes of Rowling's books: education, reading, and community involvement for social change."