From HPforGrownups - Draco as Darcy? (Was: Re: FF: Speculation - a matter of perspective)]

[serenadust]

No: HPFGUIDX 38979

It's late to be responding to some of Heidi's points in this thread, 
but I've been kept away by houseguests and family obligations, so I 
hope that it's not *too* late to address some of these arguments.

> sariadotia at a... wrote (concerning a Draco/Herm ship):
> > 
> > Ok, I honestly do not understand why so many people
> > even consider this as a 
> > possible future relationship.

  
Heidi wrote:
 
> Um, because nothing has happened to date to rule it out? Because 
JKR's sowed
> the seeds for a redemption for Draco, which would be a necessary 
precursor to
> such a thing happening?

Apart from my inability to see any "seeds" for Draco's redemption, 
wouldn't a future ship with Hermione require some major changes on 
her part? I've seen people on the list argue that to support a 
future romance between Ron and Hermione "ignores Hermione's 
feelings".  For a Draco/Hermione ship to work out she'd have to 
manage to ignore 4 years worth of serious abuse and insult, turn her 
back on the best friends (only friends?) she's had at Hogwarts, and 
generally abandon her most dearly held principles (kindness, 
loyalty, etc).  I see more hope for a Hermione/Hagrid ship, based on 
canon <vbg>.


 Heidi wrote:

 I have no idea why you are
> so scornful of fanfics, and clearly I am never going to be able to 
convince
> you that they are a pleasent diversion, a way to explore the books 
in a medium
> different from straight debate or the Theory Bay roleplaying that 
goes on here
> on this list -but it's no less valid a medium of intellectual 
discource.
> (http://zendom.diaryland.com/020404_18.html)

But fanfics don't explore the books at all.  They exist entirely 
separate from JKR's creations.  The authors use the same character 
names and settings, but beyond that everything comes from the fanfic 
author's own imagination.  I don't mean to be insulting to anyone 
who writes or enjoys fanfiction, and if I've hurt anyone's feelings 
by expressing my reservations, I'm truly sorry.  Penny referred me 
to a post by LexiconSteve (can't find the number right now) where he 
expressed my feelings on fanfiction perfectly.  I just don't think 
it actually *is* as valid a way of exploring the books as the 
discussions on this list because it it a narrative form.  A fanfic 
requires that you buy into it's world on some emotional level in 
order for it to be entertaining.  I've seen loads of posts from 
people who actually say that they have changed their opinions of 
situations and/or characters, based on fanfiction they've read.  I 
find that disturbing.

Heidi wrote:
> I actually think I am a literal-minded reader, just one who reads 
between the
> lines. I've seen the concept of "subtext" dissed in many other 
places as
> regards the character and plot developments in the books, but 
JKR's given
> subtextual hints throughout the books, and from one book to 
another, of
> important characters (Arabella Figg, for one) and 
characterisations (Snape,
> for another) that we haven't yet fully seen. Or look at the whole 
thread going
> on right now about Neville. I don't think that being a thoughtful 
reader, as I
> am, precludes also being literal-minded about the books - they can 
happily
> co-exist.
 
I agree that subtext exists in the books.  However, isn't there some 
distinction between the "hints" we've been given that there's more 
to Snape than meets the eye, or the re-introduction of Mrs Figg in 
GoF, and the notion that a single taunting remark from Malfoy at the 
QWC indicates that he *may* have been issuing a kindly warning, 
instead?  I guess to me, being a literal-minded reader means I have 
to have a little more to work with than that in order to consider 
possible alternative directions for plot/characterization.

I don't expect anyone who reads or writes fanfiction to change their 
minds about it based on my problems with it, and it really wasn't my 
intention to do so. I just wanted to explain why I find it to be too 
subversive in it's relationship to canon for me personally to enjoy.

Jo S.
> 
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