'Harry Potter' fans share many political views, says survey
鈥�Harry Potter鈥� fans already have in common their ability to rattle off obscure trivia like character Ron Weasley鈥檚 favorite Quidditch team or the address of protagonist Harry鈥檚 cruel aunt and uncle.
But it turns out they may share something more substantial as well: political views.
According to a book by University of Vermont professor Anthony Gierzynski titled 鈥淗arry Potter and the Millennials,鈥� college-age Potter fans share similar political stances. They are 鈥渕ore open to diversity; politically tolerant; less authoritarian; less likely to support the use of deadly force or torture; [and] more politically active,鈥� according to University of Vermont writer .
They also have similar tastes in politicians, with 83 percent of respondents saying they disliked the George W. Bush administration and about 60 percent stating that they voted for Barack Obama during his first election.
鈥淲hether the book provided new perspectives or reinforced those already in their world, the deep immersion in the story and identification with the characters almost guaranteed an alignment of fans鈥� perspectives with those of the wizarding world, perspectives that would differentiate them from their nonfan peers,鈥� Gierzynski told the University of Vermont.
The author surveyed 1,100 students between 2009 and 2011. Almost half of them had seen every movie, while 35 percent said they鈥檇 read all of the books in the series, and two-thirds of the students said they'd read at least part of the heptalogy. Their schools were located all over the US, from California Polytechnic State University to the University of Mississippi.
Gierzynski believes that the students鈥� increased political engagement 鈥減erhaps reflects the story鈥檚 lesson on the need to act, and efficacy of doing something to fight what is 鈥榳rong鈥� in the world.鈥�
