Why The Name Change From "Harry Potter And The Philosopher''s ...

• Sign in
• Register

Mick Gilbert, Long Beach, USA

• "Sorceror" sounds exciting, "philosopher" sounds boring, and nobody in America knows what a philosopher is. Famous title changes to take account of the incredible ignorance of the average American include "Licence Revoked" which became "Licence to Kill" when over 70% of those polled didn't what "Revoked" means, and "The Madness of King George III", which had to drop the "III" because it was realised that Americans would be uninterested in the film since they'd obviously missed the first two films of the trilogy.

  Simon Blake, Shrewsbury England

• Perhaps it was thought that an American readership wouldn't pick up on the mystical connotations of "Philosopher's Stone".

  Peadar Mac Con Aonaigh, Brixton, London

• American kids (and parents) are far less likely to have heard of the Philosopher's Stone, since (like most European myths) these are diluted in US education for the very valid reason that American history and myth takes their educational place. They will therefore look at the word without context and it doesn't make sense that way, not in a book about magic. Also the American Hollywood-driven market is producing a generation dependent upon "thrill", and a sorcerer is more compatible with that than a philosopher!

  M B Drennan, Oxford UK

• Regardless of Mr Blake's anti-American arrogance, the decision was not based on American's supposed ignorance. A poll of British children between 9 and 14 four years ago would likely have revealed a similar familiarity with the term 'philosopher's stone.' In the same vein, according to director Nicholas Hytner, the change in title of Bennett's Madness of George III was not based on the supposition that Americans would think it a sequel, but on the simple desire to include the word 'king.' The change in the Rowling title was, as Mr Drennan suggests, rooted in excitement rather than in knowledge.

  Scott McKinstry, NYC USA

• M B Drennan is doubtless right. But 50 years ago Carl Barks wrote and drew a brilliant Scrooge McDuck comic for Disney about the philosopher's stone. For the benefit of any reader who didn't know what it was, Scrooge explained the theory (a supposed stone that turns base metal into gold) in the first few panels. Presumably American kids are no longer expected even to pick up a book if they don't understand a word. Typically, Barks' comic was thematically complex: the World Gold Council tried to stop Scrooge finding the stone, for fear he would overuse it and destroy the value of the world's gold stocks; but though Scrooge did find it, he had to give it up when he started turning gold himself. The comic also dealt with Minos and the labyrinth and medieval pirate routes...kids were obviously thought readier for a challenging read in those days.

  John, Wellington New Zealand

• Having worked with American kids for 2 years, I would imagine the thought behind it is that 'philosopher' is too highbrow, and that 'sorcerer' is much more mystical and appealing...

  Philippa, Wimborne UK

• Simon Blake is wrong in his claim about why 'The Madness of King George III' was changed to 'The Madness of King George' in the US. It was merely changed because it was assumed - quite rightly - that Americans would neither know or care whether the first two Georges were mad or not. Changes in UK/US titles are made merely to reflect cultural differences, not stupidity on either side. For example, 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' was re-titled 'The Grinch' in the UK because UK audiences were unlikely to know about the Dr Seuss original which has the longer title.

  Liz Bland, Reading Berks UK

• These answers seem somewhat harsh on Americans when the true villains are the marketing people. I have no doubt that the connotations of the Philosophers Stone are completely alien to kids in most countries (including the UK). In fact recent surveys have shown our youngsters to be every bit as ignorant of recent history as anyone else.

  It is the merketeers in the US who seem to refuse to accept that popular arts can educate and improve the mind, so as soon as they see any sort of a barrier to instant access they attempt to remove it. I'm sure very few Americans understood what "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" referred to but it was still a massive success.

  I think the name change was simply because some suit in a US publishing house decided Philosopher was a hard word and Sorcerer, bathed as it is in the culture of Mickey Mouse, was more accessible. It was an error of judgement and I'm glad to hear the author, with the power that comes with success, is refusing to accept this sort of nonsense with the movie.

  Mark, Bristol, UK

• This isn't answering the original question, but I've heard that "The Madness of King George" was so called because there was only ever one King George of America, so the Americans don't call him George III.

  Andrew Cosgrove, Bath UK

• As many of you implied it really has to do with the countries' values. For instance here in The Netherlands it is 'HP and the stone of the Wise' Being a wise person is a bigger value then being a philosopher here.

  Dorine, Amsterdam the Netherlands

• There is another reason why the US was keen to avoid identifying which George was the subject of the film 'The madness of King George (III)': the film portrays as a sympathetic character a man most Americans have been brought up to think of as a villain.

  Quentin Langley, Woking, UK

• Whether or not your correspondents are being harsh on American children and their incomprehension of what a philosopher could be, they are certainly being harsh on philosophers. Speaking as a person who plies that trade, I can tell you that it is exceedingly exciting and full of thrills and spills, and it far outstrips what sorcerers get up to, if any of them actually exist, which I doubt. J.K.Rowling knew what she was doing!

  Phil Cole, Barnet Hertfordshire

• Not that this is really an answer to the question but I just wanted to add something more about changes made. As I am still only a teenager I have had the oppurtunity to read all of the books and I have seen the American versions (in Canada it remains Philosopher' Stone) and the title is not the only thing changed. Throughout the book in the U.S. words are Americanized to include popular names or brands that children in the U.S. can relate to (in the book pudding is changed to Jello). And whether it was corporations and media mougals who made the desion to do this or not, the fact still remains that most children in the U.S. don't have enough knowledge to relate to all things from different countries.

  Hillary, Canada

• The reason the Dutch title includes the reference to the "stone of the wise" is that this is simply an alternative name for the Philosopher's Stone, and the one most readily in use in a Dutch context. The provenance is the Gospel quotation "the stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone". Other names for this Alchemical stalwart include the Universal Medicine and the quinta essentia.

  John Bennett, Glasgow Scotland

• Some of the previous replies containing assumptions about what children in the U.S. know and do not know are rather amusing. Whatever the reasons for the change in the title for the U.S. market, the attitudes expressed here indicate that ignorance is a global phenomenon.

  Julie Hamner, New Orleans, Louisiana USA

• The name change is definitely an aspect of American anti-intellectualism. I taught as a public school teacher and the brightest kids want to renounce their "nerdiness". But even in graduate school I did a presentation in class in regards to the "allusion to alchemy in modern art and literature." At the end of my presentation the Graduate School Teacher said "and Matthew has been in his head to long." Really never underestimate anti-intellectualism in American the powers that be definitely don't want an intelligent population.

  Matthew, Chicago United States

• Having taught in an American school for the last 20 years, and in an English school for 25 years before that, I can share with you my experience in dealing with the two groups of children. Although I share your American patriotism and I would love to tell you about how culturally advanced American children are, I am sad to say that most American children are completely devoid of any sort of cultural and intellectual interest. It is therefore not surprising that "Philosopher" was removed from the title, as this would would be an instant subconscious turnoff not only for the children but also for the parents. Unfortunately many American parents are philistines, and desire material success and thrills for their children, a book about a philosopher cannot provide this. And to Scott McKinstry's argument about "A poll of British children between 9 and 14 four years ago would likely have revealed a similar familiarity with the term 'philosopher's stone.'", you shame the American's ability to make an argumentative point by making this claim. The use of "most likely" proves your point is utterly devoid of fact, and is argumentatively irrelevant.

  Robert Johnson, Philadelphia USA

• It's just cultural differences people. There are American films that have been released in the UK that got their titles changed over there. Fact of the matter is, doesn't matter whether you're from the U.S, the U.K, Norway, Algeria, or any other country, children crave excitement and fun, and let's be honest here, the "Sorcerer's Stone" sounds a lot more fun than the "Philosopher's Stone." I'm sure most children in the world don't know what either of the words mean anyway.

  Nicholas Matricciano, Port Washington, NY USA

• I'm not sure if it's an urban myth, but at the time that "The Madness of King George" was released, the story about the "III" being dropped because people wouldn't want to see the third film in a series without having seen the previous two was definitely in circulation. The back-up story to this was that it was claimed that people polled after watching Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" said that they'd found it difficult to understand, and maybe if they'd seen the previous four movies, they'd have found it easier.

  Brendan, Tunbridge Wells England

• I don't see the big deal here. First it's a book/movie and the names are interchangeable. Philosopher's/Sorcerer's stone, the red stone, the elixir of life, the Green Lion at one point it has been called Virgins milke and by many others. Names are changed continuously as media changes cultures. Some are probably better suited for a children's book then others.

  Chris, Chicago USA

• While it's possible the "excitement" factor played a role, it's been suggested that a far more hilarious reason is behind the change. In America, a type of hallucinogenic truffle (Psilocybe tampanensis) was discovered in Florida in the 70's and became widely known as "philosopher's stones". While no kids would be aware of the link, no doubt the baby boomer parents buying the books would. Just a theory, but most people over 40 I know are aware of this link.

  Chad, Washington, D.C. USA