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Harry Potter and the Evil Empire – all welcome to magical UEL lecture, Wednesday 14 May

Friday 2 May 2008

Magicians and muggles alike are invited to a free public lecture by Professor Andrew Blake, author of The Irresistible Rise of Harry Potter, at the University of East London (UEL) Docklands campus on Wednesday 14 May.

Harry Potter and the Evil Empire will explore the global success of the series, offering insights into the cultural and political context that has helped to establish its record-breaking popularity. 

Professor Blake said: “The Harry Potter phenomenon remains unquenchable. The best-selling books have now been translated into over fifty languages, and the films have been so successful that Warner Bros are desperate to extend the series by dividing the last book in two.

“So why all this interest – from adults as much as from children – in an apprentice wizard who doubles up as an angst-ridden teenager? The answer, I believe, lies in an understanding of current trends and anxieties in relation to education, economics, personal identity and global confrontation.”

Professor Blake, Associate Dean of the highly-rated School of Social Sciences, Media and Cultural Studies at UEL, has written extensively in the fields of music, cultural policy, fiction and sport. His books include Popular Music: the Age of Multimedia and beginner’s guides to J.R.R. Tolkien and Salman Rushdie.

Harry Potter and the Evil Empire will take place at the UEL Docklands campus from 5-7pm on Wednesday 14 May. All are welcome and admission is free. For further details, visit www.uel.ac.uk/lectureseries or contact the UEL events team on 020 8223 2884 or events@uel.ac.uk.

For further information, visit www.uel.ac.uk/ava.

For details and pictures contact Daniel Cherry: 020 8223 2194

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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