Narrative style/good vs evil in HP

[carolynwhite2]

--- In HPFGU-Catalogue at yahoogroups.com, "corinthum" <kkearney at s...> 
wrote:
> 
> I've been working through a pretty substantial thread, beginning 
with 
> post 33582, entitled "Harry Potter- A Worthwhile Series?".  The 
> thread began with a criticism of JKR's writing ability as compared 
to 
> Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, and includes some very thorough responses 
> regarding the quality of the HP series.  I've been coding them all 
to 
> 1.3.2 Narrative style.  However, perusing some of the later posts, 
> I've noticed that Carolyn has been a bit more liberal in her 
coding, 
> including all of the following:
> 
>   1.3.1 Parameters set by JKR/Authorial intent
>   1.3.2 Narrative style
>   1.6.1 Tolkein
>   1.6.2 CS Lewis
>   1.6.5 Children's classics
>   1.3.1.2 Reader response & subversive readings 
> 
> I hadn't been including any of the 1.6 categories, since the posts 
> aren't discussing influences but rather differences/similarities 
> between the HP series and other authors.  Do you think I should go 
> back and add these, or should I just leave my batch as is?
> 
> -Kelly

Kelly

I took a look at the beginning of this thread, and have to confess 
that the first post (33582) is the kind of thing which causes a red 
mist to descend over my eyes and makes me truly wonder if I am on the 
same planet as other readers. By the time I had picked up the thread 
and started coding later on, some more thoughtful discussion had 
evidently set in.

However, several points:

- by 'quality', I believe the author is initially referring to moral 
quality more than written style, although narrative style and writing 
ability is also cited, therefore you need a broader coding.

- the codes under 'other influences' should be clicked whenever there 
is an extended discussion/comparison of HP with other genres or 
specific authors - here CS Lewis. The central point of the initial 
post is that Rowling's view of good and evil is simplistic, vs the 
apparently superior moral outlook of the Narnia books [pause to 
choke..].

- the discussion quickly becomes religious (inevitably), 
so 'religious influences' should be clicked, and most probably 'good 
vs evil', 'morality/immorality' etc.

- as some people (fortunately) put up some spirited responses, I 
think 'reader response/subversive readings' is useful for some posts 
down the line.

Any other views from people with a higher tolerance level than me for 
this sort of stuff? 

Carolyn
Facing a birthday tomorrow, so extra grumpy, apologies.