[HPFGU-Catalogue] Defining FPs

[Barry Arrowsmith]

>
>  Carolyn:
>  Out of curiosity, since I notice Hans is posting again...what is our
>  consensus on his Alchemical Wedding contribution? The thing is,
>  although I think a couple of us think the theory is pretty far-
>  fetched, to the point of nuts, that isn't actually a valid reason for
>  not considering it for FP-dom. Heck, plenty of other theories are
>  probably nuts as well, but that never stopped anyone.
>
>  In reality, it is a very-carefully argued, long, consistent and
>  intellectually-wide-ranging contribution, expressed in fairly clear
>  English. It takes careful account of canon, and relentlessly examines
>  every last detail to support the argument.
>
>  If I were pulling all our contributions together to present to JKR,
>  actually, I think I would want to include it. Its extreme, but not
>  necessarily any more wrong than anything else..
>
>  Thoughts?


Plenty.

OK, for newer cataloguers - I've had problems with Hans in the past; a 
posted response expressing disagreement with points raised in one of 
his essays resulted in a bombardment of multi-page mails, even after I 
requested that they cease. Very  few of them had any bearing on HP, 
some were reminiscent of having an extreme evangelist constantly in 
your face. You may consider that to be irrelevant; I consider it to be 
indicative.

Hans does not try to deduce theories from canon;  canon has to fit his 
own personal beliefs. JKR has read and been seduced by all the 
wonderful ideas in "The Alchemical Wedding", all events and characters 
in HP are based on the precepts of this book, JKR is emulating this 
mind-expanding  tome and disguising it as a story about a boy wizard. 
He expresses total certainty. He, as a  fellow acolyte, knows all and 
provided copious quotes from Nazi Death-Camp survivors to prove it. 
Disagreement is seen as unenlightened ignorance that will be dispelled 
by exposure  to the true message.

That is not the attitude of a fan, but of a proselytiser. He doesn't 
give a damn about the plot, the  characters, or the eventual 
resolution, except in so far as it complies or can be presented as 
congruent with his own world view. Everything must  be interpreted to 
fit the concepts expounded in another book - this "Alchemical Wedding" 
that he kept referring to. Comparison is one thing, compulsory 
compliance is something else IMO.

He is not a fan, more a fanatic, and unfortunately it's not in his 
regard of the Potterverse. HP is just grist for his mill.

Some may  consider him plausible, even entertaining, and yes, he does 
delve into  minutiae (when it supports his case), but a candidate for 
inclusion amongst the best that we can provide? Never.

Barry


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