Ginny & the Platform Scene (with lit theory and SHIP)

[davewitley]

No: HPFGUIDX 33146

Ebony wrote:

> I read your post with interest, Dave.  However, I'm not sure that 
> this can be applied to only the Ginny and the Platform scene 
> thread.   If we apply structural criticism to the Harry Potter 
canon, 
> I'd like to see it applied across the board.

Yes, I agree.  My post was almost a plea to apply *one* approach 
consistently when discussing any given question.   I don't actually 
plead for that as it would make for mostly a very boring list.  So 
all I'm doing is pointing out that if you mix approaches to try to 
actually *prove* something (as opposed to just stating your beliefs) 
you really have to know what you are doing or you will come unstuck.  
In fact I don't even really want to hold to that point - I just 
sensed the chalk-and-cheese nature of the original exchange and 
thought it was interesting.
> 
> A year ago I took a stab at psychoanalytic criticism of the 
potential 
> romance subplot of HP.  The largest issue I ran into was the fact 
> that canon isn't closed... it would be like trying to apply Lacan's 
> theories to only the first half of *Frankenstein*, you know.  So I 
> have the draft of the paper still on my hard drive, waiting for 
> whenever canon closes.
> 
> While I applaud the thought that went into the analysis and see 
where 
> you're coming from, I don't think we can say that Pip is applying a 
> specific critical theory until we can look "back" from a vantage 
> point in canon where H/G occurs in some form.

I feel I should give some personal information at this point.  I have 
Grade 4 'O' Level (Grade 1 is best, Grade 6 is just pass) Eng Lit.  I 
took this exam at 15 years of age (just as you believe Hermione 
will!) and effectively ceased all formal study of English then.

So I can't really comment on specific critical theories.  I liked the 
Lacan (who he?) post though.  I take it structural criticism is what 
you get when you put the words 'structural' and 'criticism' together, 
and as such it is a special case of what I called a literary argument.

Just for the record: I share with Pippin the sneaky feeling that JKR 
is intending to go H/G; I think the girl portrayed on platform 9 3/4 
acts in a way that is immature for a ten year old but that doesn't 
spoil the story for me, even if it does go H/G; in the English middle 
class culture to which Molly belongs it would in my view be 
unacceptable to leave a 9 or 10 year old alone at home for a large 
part of the day.

David

who has not joined any ACRONYM yet