Teaching leadership with popular culture: Practical lessons from Harry Potter

ABSTRACT

The scholarship on using popular culture – specifically from films – as an effective educational tool to enhance teaching opportunities that link leadership theory to practice has gained traction in the past decade. This article extends the discourse and uses Harry Potter, the cultural phenomenon fantasy film series, as a source of teaching material apt with practical lessons in leadership. A content analysis of the 8-film series found 151 leadership scenarios that can be used as models in which leadership theories and approaches can be recognized, applied, and promote classroom discussion. However, seven specific clips are showcased to recognize a limited number of leadership theories and approaches frequently taught in a public affairs leadership classroom. They include the situational and behavioral approaches to leadership, leader-member-exchange theory, authentic leadership, team leadership, transformational leadership, and race/culture in leadership.

KEYWORDS:

• Popular culture
• public administration teaching
• leadership theory
• film
• Harry Potter

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. For a more comprehensive summary of the films, please visit https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Films_(real-world).

2. For a more comprehensive summary of the characters, please visit https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_characters_in_translations_of_Harry_Potter.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Helen H. Yu

Helen H. Yu is an associate professor and the graduate chair of the Masters in Public Administration program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Her research and teaching interests include human resource management, social equity, and leadership and ethics.

Kenika M. Lorenzo-Elarco

Kenika M. Lorenzo-Elarco is a graduate student of the Masters in Public Administration program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. After graduation, he plans to further his research in a doctoral program with goals of entering the field of academia.

Mary J. Murro

Mary J. Murro is a graduate student of the Masters in Public Administration program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is interested in pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector promoting youth development and social responsibility.

Elisabeth L. McAnany

Elisabeth L. McAnany is a graduate student of the Masters in Public Administration program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She is interested in studying the juvenile justice system and pursuing a career in juvenile justice reform with an emphasis on rehabilitative focused programs for at-risk youth.

Hana R. Anderson

Hana R. Anderson is a graduate student of the Masters in Public Administration program at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. She currently works for a small nonprofit organization and hopes to transition to a local nonprofit or state agency after graduation.