Medieval Art in Harry Potter
...anatomy, is frame worked in a skeletal fashion. Pillars, walls, and buttresses are directly connected via rib-shaped architecture. Much like the foundation of our living bodies, the skeletal structures bring a sense of life to the building – it is as if the school actually is a living being. The continuity between all architecture inside the school, aesthetically, provides a gigantic free-flowing space with a prominent organic style like that of gothic cathedrals. Another relation between gothic cathedrals and the Hogwart’s school of magic lies within the purpose and subject matter of the church. Gothic cathedrals served as the focus point for Christian religions in medieval times. Kings resided here, and only the highest officials of society practiced business here. Every bit and piece of a gothic cathedral aimed to glorify a higher spiritual power. Vast vertical space created by extremely tall and lofty ceilings invokes the Christian sense of heaven and earth. With such high rising ceilings a worshiper may experience a greater closeness to the heavens above, which then induces feelings of spirituality and a greater power within the church, itself. This is the exact feeling film makers achieved through gothic architecture in the film. The idea behind the school was for the students to respect a higher spiritual power – the spiritual power of magic and the proper use of it. Much like a Christian follows the way of the lord, the students of the Hogwart’s school of magic follow magic. Magical properties are embedded within the school through in and throughout – figures in paintings will communicate with students, magical creatures are constantly stirring about, etc…. This is similar to the way gothic cathedrals were decorated – highly Christ oriented and heavy Christian imagery. These decorations provide an omniscient mood – when one occupies a space decorated like these he or she knows immediately their purpose in their present location. In a gothic cathedral the purpose would be to pay respect to your Lord and Savior, and in the school of magic one’s purpose is to learn and respect magic. The school’s resemblance of a medieval gothic cathedral provides the audience with a serious respect for magic, the way that Christian believers have a serious respect for their faith. This seriousness, that the gothic architecture brings to the school, pulls the audience into the story as they understand the great respect students and teachers of the Hogwart’s school of magic have for their religion – and the magic, we can say, becomes a religion. Another aspect of gothic cathedral which brings forth a mythical mood and setting in the film is the aesthetic quality of lighting. Many tall narrow windows ascend to the highest peaks of the school and line the interior with a brilliant light source. The lighting inside the building shines through to all objects placing emphasis upon certain areas of the building. Light is associated with omniscient status – medieval gothic cathedrals used lighting to construct a spiritual hierarchy within the church. The sparkling light accents important areas of the church – areas that are said to be of most significance. Yet, while some areas absorb luminous qualities, the areas that don’t posses a dark, shadowy, and eerie flavor. This is how the filmmakers portray the feelings of good and evil. A “safe place” ...