Talisman's Snape Plan and UI progress

[Jen Reese]

Well, I thought it might be the weekend before getting back to the 
Snape plan Talisman drafted. Hopefully some of you will still have 
time to respond before your week gets incredibly busy.

First, Tim, I wanted to send my condolences to you and your family 
during this incredibly hard time. Thank you for everything you're 
doing with this project. I was thrilled to hear we have a bare bones 
version running! 

Snapey. I'm keeping almost all the parts of Talisman's plan intact 
in this reply so others can read her thoughts, but there is some 
snipping if you want to go upthread for Real Thing. 

> Ah, yes.  Snape as a finale.  Seems to be Rowlings' plan, too. :)  

Just liked this part <g>.

Talisman:
> When I was initially considering the problem, I felt that it would 
> be desirable to sort Snape posts as either Pro or Anti, no matter 
> which other categories were involved.
> 
> Snape is the controversy lightning-rod of the series, and one's 
> *camp* tends to color whatever else is being discussed.
 
> Usually I don't like two-box decision trees, but there is the
> matter of expediency, and even posters who are on-the-fence tend
> to come down on one side or the other (e.g. *He may turn out to be
> working for the Order, BUT I can't excuse his behavior, etc. 
> etc.*) 
> 
> Pro/Anti is a bit different than Voldie/DD. Some people think
> Snape rocks even if he turns out to be LV's man; others think he
> stinks even if he's going to kill the Dark Lord wth his bare
> hands.  
> 
> I think this slant follows through the other categories.  The 
> character assasination, I mean analysis, section will reek of it. 
> Assumptions and interpretations of what we know of his early days 
> will be slanted toward whichever side the poster is trying to
> reach.

This is actually the only part I have reservations about because, 
like T. mentioned, the two-box decision tree. Even though there is a 
slant in many of the categories, like MD having a category to 
itself, there wouldn't be another major character divided this 
cleanly. Now I *could* see a sub-category within Snape named 'Pro' 
and 'Anti' or whatever name, offering a selection of posts. 

The biggest problem I see is breaking up threads. To me the arguing 
back and forth and pulling out more canon to make a case is what 
makes the Snape threads so....erm....vibrant. If you cut these up 
into two categories, threads will get cut up, too, and the 
continuity is lost. 
 
Talisman:
> I don't know how others feel, but I can well imagine wanting to
> pull up posts that examine issues without the Anti-Snape lens.
> Others may want to research an enormous hate-fest without any
> apologists to bat out of the way.
> 
> Or, conversely, we may want to review only the opposing side's 
> arguments on an issue, when, armed with new canon, we set out to 
> methodically rebut them all.  tee hee. 
> 
> In any event, I thought it would be a useful management tool for
> the researcher.

Jen: Wanted to leave this part in so others can read the full 
reasoning for dividing into pro/anti.

Talisman:
> In the *For Whom is Snape Working* aka *Whose Man?* category, we 
> probably want to include the *Out for Himself* crowd.  No 
> different category, just a refined definition. 
> 
> Also, we know that Snape was both loved and loving.  Maybe the
> *Who He Loved* category could be expanded to handle posts going
> either way.  Or, just call it *Snape and Love.*  Alternatively,
> there should be a category for each possibility (lover/lovee)  By
> the way-- are we SURE all these feelings are past tense? <g>

Jen:  Liked all these suggestions myself. Vote yes, and think 
there's a possibility Snape has a few embers burning for Narcissa 
since Talisman brought it up. 

Talisman: 
> Otherwise I'm assuming that the plan expects Snape-related plot 
> incidents to be covered by existing *significant scenes* divisions 
> in the list.  
> 
> This may not be the case. IIRC, posts are not supposed to be coded 
> to the character name, but there are many scenes which have
> spurred particular analysis of Snape's actions in specific
> incidents. E.g. what was *really going on* in the first potions 
> class, Cos dueling scene, scene on the stairs in GOF, etc.  

> The bottom line is, you may want to review the extant *significant 
> scenes* codes with specific thought to Snape, to see if others are 
> necessary.  Obviously, if coders find threads that don't seem to 
> have a good home, you can always create new Snape scene-related 
> codes along the way.
> 
> IIRC, there is an established code for teachers that would cover
> all the Snape-is-a-horible-teacher rants.
> 
> I'm sure Anne is all over posts related to Harry's
> POV/relationship with Snape.
> 
> Why DD trusts him can probably fit into the Whose Man? category.
> 
> Spying is already covered.


Jen: I really like this idea of significant scenes. Talisman 
mentioned cross-coding to chapters in a snipped section and I think 
the chapters have plenty of information in them already, inlcuding 
some threads on important Snape scenes. If people find a good thread 
that didn't make it in and wanted to cross-code to a chapter, that's 
fine. But otherwise we don't need to bother with the chapter cross-
coding at this point.

 
> Why Snape and Sirius REALLY loathe each other fits into Young
> Snape.(Hint, it's not the Prank.)

Hmmm, I should know your theory on this and don't. Why do they? A 
woman? They're related? do tell.....


Talisman's section recs:

> Pro/Anti
> Character Analysis
> Whose Man?
> Young Snape
> Snape and Love
> Vampire/BatAnimagus
> TBAYS
> Significant Scenes
> 
> 
> Seems like a good start, anyway.
> 
> Talisman.  Game for a share of 500 posts.


Jen, game for whatever amount of posts, and wanting to get started 
soon because she'll have some time off over Spring Break next week.