The Clayton State Library is pleased to announce that we will soon host an installation of the traveling exhibit, Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine, developed and produced by the Exhibition Program at the National Library of Medicine.
In 1997, British author J. K. Rowling introduced the world to Harry Potter and a literary phenomenon was born. Millions of readers have followed Harry to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry where he discovers his heritage, encounters new plants and animals, and perfects his magical abilities.
Although a fantasy story, the magic in the Harry Potter books is partially based on Renaissance traditions that played an important role in the development of Western science, including alchemy, astrology, and natural philosophy. Incorporating the work of several 15th- and 16th-century thinkers, the seven-part series examines important ethical topics such as the desire for knowledge, the effects of prejudice, and the responsibility that comes with power.
This exhibition, using materials from the National Library of Medicine, explores Harry Potter’s world, its roots in Renaissance science, and the ethical questions that affected not only the wizards of Harry Potter, but also the historical thinkers featured in the series.
Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine will be on display in the University Archives within the Clayton State Library beginning March 20th and will run for six weeks until April 28th. In conjunction with this exhibit, the library will host a celebration with games, prizes, and refreshments, as well as a series of faculty lectures.
- March 20th – April 28th: Exhibit available in the University Archives
- March 23rd: Opening celebration from 1pm – 3pm in the Upper Level Library
Faculty Lectures in Library room L200:
- Tuesday, March 28 11:00 am –Kathryn Pratt Russell: Convergence of Renaissance and contemporary money in the Harry Potter World.
- Wednesday, April 5 12:00 pm – Antoinette Miller: Interactive presentation exploring the context and information on various potions their links to various psychological phenomena.
- Thursday, April 13 12:00 pm – Seth Shaw & Josh Kitchens: Immortality through memory and an exploration of magical and muggle attempts to preserve memory
- Monday, April 17 1:00 pm – Michelle Furlong: Medelian genetics of wizards
This exhibition is brought to you by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. For more information, please contact Erin Nagel ErinNagel@clayton.edu, 678-466-4030