WHo? what? when? where? and why?
Welcome to Pathos in Harry Potter and The Walking Dead, a site completely dedicated to the recognition of Aristotle's rhetorical concept of pathos within two of the 21st century's significant cultural phenomenons, Harry Potter and The Walking Dead.
Created for our WRA 260 course, Rhetoric, Persuasion, and Culture, at Michigan State University, we compare and contrast the usage and effectiveness of the rhetorical concept of pathos as it is seen in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of books and movies and Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. graphic novels and television series by means of a webpage.
Our intended audience includes college students, specifically those who are extremely involved in their respective zealous fan groups. Our audience may also wish to see how the two works of literature, which appear seemingly different, are, in fact, more similar than initially thought.
Created for our WRA 260 course, Rhetoric, Persuasion, and Culture, at Michigan State University, we compare and contrast the usage and effectiveness of the rhetorical concept of pathos as it is seen in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of books and movies and Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead. graphic novels and television series by means of a webpage.
Our intended audience includes college students, specifically those who are extremely involved in their respective zealous fan groups. Our audience may also wish to see how the two works of literature, which appear seemingly different, are, in fact, more similar than initially thought.
Meet the Team
Siobhan Canty
Assistant Web Designer, Harry Potter Researcher
Siobhan is a junior at Michigan State University, majoring in the Professional Writing major. She hopes to attend law school after completing her undergraduate degree. As a young girl, she refused to read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter out of defiance and stubbornness because everyone kept repeating how "amazing" and "life-changing" the books were. After she had her wisdom teeth removed, she spent her time recuperating on the couch while watching all the Harry Potter movies available on OnDemand.
She rarely watches television, but she has heard of all the hype surrounding The Walking Dead television series. Siobhan's interest in possibly watching the show has increased since working on this project.
Assistant Web Designer, Harry Potter Researcher
Siobhan is a junior at Michigan State University, majoring in the Professional Writing major. She hopes to attend law school after completing her undergraduate degree. As a young girl, she refused to read J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter out of defiance and stubbornness because everyone kept repeating how "amazing" and "life-changing" the books were. After she had her wisdom teeth removed, she spent her time recuperating on the couch while watching all the Harry Potter movies available on OnDemand.
She rarely watches television, but she has heard of all the hype surrounding The Walking Dead television series. Siobhan's interest in possibly watching the show has increased since working on this project.
Jordan Poll
Web Designer, Novel Series Researcher
Jordan is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Professional Writing and English with a concentration in Editing and Publishing. She hopes to graduate in May 2015 with two Bachelor's degrees and go on to work as an editor for a publishing house that specializes in fictional and fantasy novels like Harry Potter and The Walking Dead. She is an avid fan of both Harry Potter and The Walking Dead and her interest has only increased since working on this project.
Web Designer, Novel Series Researcher
Jordan is a senior at Michigan State University, majoring in Professional Writing and English with a concentration in Editing and Publishing. She hopes to graduate in May 2015 with two Bachelor's degrees and go on to work as an editor for a publishing house that specializes in fictional and fantasy novels like Harry Potter and The Walking Dead. She is an avid fan of both Harry Potter and The Walking Dead and her interest has only increased since working on this project.
Becca Rohde
Harry Potter Writer, Harry Potter Interviewer
Becca is a sophomore at Michigan State University, majoring in Professional Writing focusing on Editing and Publishing. She grew up reading Harry Potter with her mom and has seen and owns all of the movies. After college Becca hopes to work in the publishing world at a publishing house, focusing on novels like Harry Potter. She originally had no interest in The Walking Dead series but after working on the project has come to see the value in the series.
Harry Potter Writer, Harry Potter Interviewer
Becca is a sophomore at Michigan State University, majoring in Professional Writing focusing on Editing and Publishing. She grew up reading Harry Potter with her mom and has seen and owns all of the movies. After college Becca hopes to work in the publishing world at a publishing house, focusing on novels like Harry Potter. She originally had no interest in The Walking Dead series but after working on the project has come to see the value in the series.
Taryn Selden
The Walking Dead Writer, The Walking Dead Interviewer
Between her work schedule and demanding class schedule, Taryn's days are nothing short of hectic. A senior at Michigan State University, Taryn is majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities. After graduation, Taryn aspires to earn her master's in human resources. She has never seen Harry Potter or The Walking Dead, but she has definitely overheard enough about the two series from her family and friends.
The Walking Dead Writer, The Walking Dead Interviewer
Between her work schedule and demanding class schedule, Taryn's days are nothing short of hectic. A senior at Michigan State University, Taryn is majoring in Interdisciplinary Humanities. After graduation, Taryn aspires to earn her master's in human resources. She has never seen Harry Potter or The Walking Dead, but she has definitely overheard enough about the two series from her family and friends.
Jeremy Stevens
Rhetorical Concept Writer, The Walking Dead Researcher
Jeremy is professional freelance writer of both journalism and genre fiction who has returned to college in order to complete his education at Michigan State University with double majors in Professional Writing and Theatre. While unfamiliar with The Walking Dead because his time as a horror writer has left him disinterested in anything zombie related, Jeremy knows far more about Harry Potter than he will admit thanks to his daughter.
Rhetorical Concept Writer, The Walking Dead Researcher
Jeremy is professional freelance writer of both journalism and genre fiction who has returned to college in order to complete his education at Michigan State University with double majors in Professional Writing and Theatre. While unfamiliar with The Walking Dead because his time as a horror writer has left him disinterested in anything zombie related, Jeremy knows far more about Harry Potter than he will admit thanks to his daughter.
Works Cited
American Movie Classics. “The Walking Dead. Season Three: Fight the Dead. Fear the Living.” Poster. 2012. <http://www.amctv.com/shows/the-walking-dead/>.
Armstrong, Emily. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Ashbaugh, Cailin. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Blanton, Greg. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Caban, Dan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 5th Ed. New York: Pearson, 2012. Print.
Kirkman, Robert. The Walking Dead, Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life. California: Image, 2009. Print.
McMahon, Kelsey. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Mills, Claudia. “The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral Choices.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 29.1 (2004): 143-45. Project MUSE. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Minslow, Sarah. “Heroism in the Harry Potter Series.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 37.2 (2012): 242-44. Project MUSE. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Mueller, Paige. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Pedler, Martyn. “The Walking Dead: Zombie Pathos.” martynpedler.com. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://www.martynpedler.com/2010/12/the-walking-dead-zombie-pathos/>.
Poll, Jordan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Radigan, Winifred M. “Connecting the Generations: Memory, Magic, and Harry Potter.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 44.8 May 2001: 694. JSTOR. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Smith, Marlena. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Snyder, Dan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Armstrong, Emily. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Ashbaugh, Cailin. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Blanton, Greg. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Caban, Dan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Crowley, Sharon, and Debra Hawhee. Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. 5th Ed. New York: Pearson, 2012. Print.
Kirkman, Robert. The Walking Dead, Volume 6: This Sorrowful Life. California: Image, 2009. Print.
McMahon, Kelsey. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Mills, Claudia. “The Wisdom of Harry Potter: What Our Favorite Hero Teaches Us about Moral Choices.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 29.1 (2004): 143-45. Project MUSE. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Minslow, Sarah. “Heroism in the Harry Potter Series.” Children’s Literature Association Quarterly 37.2 (2012): 242-44. Project MUSE. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Mueller, Paige. Personal interview. 11 Sept. 2013.
Pedler, Martyn. “The Walking Dead: Zombie Pathos.” martynpedler.com. Web. 10 Nov. 2013. <http://www.martynpedler.com/2010/12/the-walking-dead-zombie-pathos/>.
Poll, Jordan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Radigan, Winifred M. “Connecting the Generations: Memory, Magic, and Harry Potter.” Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy 44.8 May 2001: 694. JSTOR. Web. 25 Sept. 2013.
Smith, Marlena. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.
Snyder, Dan. Personal interview. 29 Nov. 2013.