1. Circuit of Culture
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Defining the Circuit
Stuart Hall’s circuit of culture provides an analytical framework through which to view products of popular culture. The circuit is split into five interacting elements — representation, identity, production, consumption, and regulation — which range in their level of visibility to the public sphere. Visible elements are representation and identity, whereas production, consumption, and regulation are invisible, subtly influencing the popular culture artifact in obscured ways. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets can be radically contextualized through this circuit as it is a cultural product, and thus cannot be effectively examined independently from popular culture.
Representation. In a book series about magic and wizards, it seems counterintuitive to perceive real-world representation, but J. K. Rowling integrates social commentary on under-represented groups, highlighting complex social issues. This has been noted in previous research, particularly examining the representation of gender equality, race issues, slavery, and child abuse (Bullinger 2015). Various groups and religious ideas are represented, but they are one step removed from true representation as they are magical analogs of real-world issues. However, these character and motif analogs serve as symbols that provide the necessary foundation through which social commentary can be engaged in. For example, the
Identity. As the novel is a fictional product manufactured for consumption (and thus, in part, for commodified reasons), the integrated topics are decided through J. K. Rowling’s own perspective and interests, as well as those of her editors, publishing company, and what is expected to do well within the cultural context. The identity is further defined by the fans of Harry Potter, called ‘Potterheads’, who interpret and create their own meanings to the novels/movies/franchise through engagement and reproduction.
Production. In the writing of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, J. K. Rowling created meaning in the novel by imbuing it with characteristics reflective of the cultural context it was developed in. As such, elements of cultural controversies, again, like race, gender, and power struggle issues, are integrated throughout.
Consumption. The messages portrayed within The Chamber of Secrets can be integrated into daily life. However, this most likely depends on the age of the reader, as messages explicit to older audiences are only implied to children. Thus, consumption can only go as far as an individual chooses to engage with the novel. As well, consumption is amplified by the commodification and commercialization of the entire Harry Potter series
Regulation. As a novel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is regulated via its own agency, as groups engage with or reject the novel’s broader commentaries. Particularly relevant here is the rejection of the wizarding world by fundamentalist religious, primarily Christian sects, as seen in documentaries like Jesus Camp, where children are instilled with the belief that Harry Potter is sacrilegious. Social norms of the meanings and symbols within Harry Potter dictate what aspects of the series can be engaged with, and by who, and thus these aspects act as implicit regulators.
Resources
Bullinger, Delaney. “Witches, Bitches, and the Patriarchy: Gender and Power in the Harry Potter Series.” DigitalCommons@Linfield. 2015. digitalcommons. linfield.edu/englstud_theses/13/.
Ewing, Heidi E. and Rachel Grady, directors. Jesus Camp.
Jones, Paul and David Holmes. “Encoding/Decoding.” Key Concepts in Media and Communications. London: SAGE Publications Ltd, 2011. 74–80. SAGE Knowledge. Web. 29 Nov. 2019, doi: 10.4135/9781473914582.n16.
Image Resources
(1) J.K. Rowling
https://www.latimes.com/books/la-et-jc-jk-rowling-writing-20181203-story.html
(2) imagery example artwork
66.media.tumblr.com/90f13f0d96b1a90e67e79ad1c3b95b8b/tumblr_n7s68rsbQ81rz83leo6_1280.jpg
