Posted on Sept. 4: Harry Potter required reading at McMaster

McMaster's Department of English offers a different sort of literary classic in its new course, Reading the Bestseller: Contemporary British Fiction.

The reading list for the fourth-year seminar, which has filled its 18 or so spots for next term, includes J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding and the cult smash Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh.

“I haven't encountered (negative) responses but I know that that's possible,” says Sarah Brophy, the 29-year-old assistant professor, who is starting her first year of teaching. “But these are books that are very widely read and that have very complicated cultural consequences.

“It's worth taking them seriously.”

Another popular course at McMaster is Modern Countercultures, a second-year course that debuted in January. It's a blend of art, literature and film.

“It started off high” with 130 students enrolled, says Mary O'Connor, the English professor who will start teaching Modern Countercultures on Friday. “This year we're beginning with 140, at least, and we'll see where it goes to.”

The course — which draws students from English, communications studies and comparative literature programs — looks at the fashionable rebels who have proudly danced outside the bounds of mainstream culture.

For the original story in today's Hamilton Spectator, click here.

(The Hamilton Spectator, Sept. 4, 2002)