"Harry Potter and the order of the fandom": an investigation into the interactions between fans on officially and non-officially produced websites, using the Harry Potter series as an example.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this research is to determine whether users of interactive websites (which maintain a steady fanbase) engage with the website and other users differently based on the status of production of the website. In order to achieve this I aim to analyse the findings of websites Pottermore, Mugglenet and Reddit in order to find out whether their users interact differently. Harry Potter was first released as a series of children's books by author J.K Rowling, telling the story of teenager Harry Potter's school career as a young wizard, and the trials he must face to conquer the most evil dark wizard in the world. The series began in 1997, and in 2016, is now a global phenomenon -with seven books, eight film adaptations, video game versions, UK and US based theme parks and a live stage show awaiting release in 2016. As a result of continuous success, the Harry Potter series has maintained an active and loyal fanbase, with the story now crossing generations due to its appeal to all age groups. As a story written in an era of constant technological advancement, the proliferation of the internet saw a platform given to fans in which they could communicate globally, due to the increasing accessibility and advancements of web 2.0.