Official Philip Nel Discussion Question #4--Will HP become classic?

[pippin_999]

No: HPFGUIDX 38133

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "jayseeweezer" <jweaver at s...> 
wrote:

>>>I think the discussion of whether or not the Potter novels 
are/will be classics is a little premature?we've only seen four of 
the seven and it appears that after two years JKR has hit 
something of a wall? until the series is resolved I think it's a little 
early for judgment!<<<<

Lots of acknowledged classics  are incomplete, either because 
they were never finished or because parts of them were lost over 
time.  Think Mozart's Requiem, or the 'Venus di Milo'. 

What makes a classic though? According to my dictionary, it's a 
work of the first rank, or of enduring value, or one which serves 
as a model for others, or a work dating from the classical period 
of Greece and Rome. The last definition is the oldest, which 
makes me wonder. Since most of us no longer look back to even 
a hypothetical golden age, does the whole concept of classics 
make any sense? What difference does it make whether a work 
from our own time is labelled a classic or not? (replies to 
OT-Chatter).

Luke asked:
>> does Harry Potter hold something special to set it apart?<<

One thing which really strikes me as an innovation about HP and 
I think might influence others is the way JKR has managed to 
integrate the genders. She has posited a magical fantasy world 
which is not at all futuristic but which is calmly egalitarian:  no 
disguised-as-male or semi-clad warrior princesses toting 
breastplates here, thank you very much. I think the concept falls 
down a little in execution because JKR hesitates between her 
egalitarian principles and the desire to take a poke at  real-life  
heirarchies in education, sports and government, which are still 
goshdernitall male. Then to avoid  male-bashing she has to 
invent counterexamples, Lupin for Snape, Dumbledore for 
Fudge, etc.. The wizarding world ends up looking  like a man's 
world despite the author's intentions. Hermione is interesting 
though. I really can't think of another series with a boy lead 
character that presents a girl on such equal terms. Can anyone?

Pippin