[HPforGrownups] Re: The timeline on the DVD *confirms* canon.

[Eileen]

No: HPFGUIDX 55837

 --- Ebony <selah_1977 at yahoo.com> wrote: 
> Eileen, the definition of "confirm" is, according to
> Merriam-Webster:
> 1 : to give approval to : RATIFY 
> 2 : to make firm or firmer : STRENGTHEN 
> 3 : to administer the rite of confirmation to 
> 4 : to give new assurance of the validity of :
> remove doubt about by 
> authoritative act or indisputable fact 
..........
> Canon didn't *confirm* that Hermione is six weeks
> younger than Harry 
> instead of ten months.  It introduced it as a fact. 
> The timeline 
> *confirms* it.

But later you write 
>"But then again, since JKR's
> already confirmed this date in canon,

which suggests that you're using "confirms" in the
exact same sense as I am, in which we speak of canon
confirming our arguments. Even though, of course,
technically speaking, canon does not give approval to
our arguments. 
 
> I find it very surprising that your opinions on this
> issue are so 
> strong, since in your first post, you stated that
> the 1979/1980 
> dating wasn't a very big deal to you.  Judging from
> your replies 
> here, it certainly doesn't seem as if that is that
> case.

Given that at no time have I argued as to what
Hermione's age actually is, as far as I can recall, I
have no idea what you're referring to. I *don't* care
about the result. I *do* care about the process. 

> And BTW, I am an academic.  

Yes, I know. That's why I brought up the example. :-) 

> But then again, since
> JKR's already 
> confirmed this date in canon, if I ever wrote an
> *academic* paper on 
> Hermione's birth date (as if!), I've already got the
> primary source 
> quote.

And I think that's as it should be. 

> Interesting.  So the PoA quote remains a Flint for
> both of you, 
> then?  Or is the issue not the Flintiness of said
> quote, but because 
> I feel the DVD timeline confirms canon?

No, I don't think the PoA quote is a Flint. I'm quite
willing to believe Hermione is a thirteen year old in
PoA. I'm worried about the precedent, though, of
taking reportedly approved items as canon. I can
understand you being pleased by the indication of
authorial approval, but you have to remember that I
originally took issue with the suggestion that this
*must* settle the age debate once and for all. 

Eileen

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