‘Reading and [w]rocking’: Morality and musical creativity in the Harry Potter fandom

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Wizard rock, often stylized in written form as ‘wrock’, creatively engages with and augments the content world of Harry Potter through musically and lyrically diverse performances. Fan studies centred on Harry Potter have often discussed the application of fictional heroism to real-world issues, and wizard rock musicians are frequently cited as fandom activists. However, there is little analysis of the music, lyrics and performances of wizard rock as it relates to the moral messages of the series. Focusing on the work of the first wizard rock band, Harry and the Potters, I unite ethnographic fieldwork with historical research and the study of myth to place wizard rock within a narrative of musical activism, fan creativity and morality in music. Similar to their heroes in the books, these musicians imbue their music and their self images with the series’ morals, historical tropes and archetypes. They make this morality tangible by donating proceeds of compilation albums or music subscription series sales to nonprofit organizations, and by weaving these messages into their music. I argue that the wizard rock community’s application of fictional heroism through music, lyrics and performance encourages fellow Harry Potter fans to embrace heroic qualities in the real world.</jats:p>