Defend OOTP against my horribly Muggle mind!

[feetmadeofclay]

No: HPFGUIDX 76510

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "zesca" <nansense at c...> wrote:
> <snip from feetmadeofclay> 
>  
> <now madeyemood>

> I love the way she plays with language and images ---Mimbulus 
mimbletonia, Bellatrix LeStrange --- although her grammar can be a 
bit loose.

Oh me too. It is really a strength with her.  Only Rowling could make 
me think 'Hermione Granger' is a perfectly normal name for the girl 
next door. 

I love all the names of the places and the people. I even 
like 'Shacklebolt'.  Frankly just fun to say.  

> <now madeyemood>
> In a way this makes Hermione an even more culturally relevant 
character. 
> How do we stay conscious during these multicultural times in which 
social 
> inequities are more subtle? 

Well... I am always hoping it will be that. But I fear she has little 
desire to be such a subtle writer. She's very attached to the 
boldness of charicature.  It isn't a bad thing but it might get in 
the way of developing more subtle themes. 

Look at how much time was spent on developing Umbridge versus 
Hermione's ongoing interaction (or non interaction) with the elves. 
Of course only time will tell...  But I have my doubts. I am sure the 
elves will be important plotwise, but I am not sure there will be any 
effectively drawn comment on Hermione's views.   

> <feetmadeofclay says>
> > Is OOTP just brain candy or is it literature? It can't be both.  
> 
> <now madeyemood>
> Perhaps neither?
> For me it's rather more candified than literary, but maybe really, 
really 
> great candy? Like those Godiva dark chocolate scallop shells with 
the soft  hazelnut mousse in the inside?
> 
Oooo I like that - very funny.  Not good for you - but certainly more 
respectable than a kitkat.    

> 
> <now madeyemood>
> I found Byatt unduly grumpy, myself, like a cranky adult in 1963 
who loves 
> classical music and utterly misses the point of rock n roll. she 
seemed to 
> be tuned into the wrong frequency and thus missing the essense of 
> Potterversality. Did you happen to catch the John Leonard piece 
that was 
> released close to the Byatt? It was a nice antidote, I thought.

Nice point.  We may not be reading becuase of what the press is 
saying at all.  We may just like it - simple as that. And my attack 
on the inflated reviews may be nothing more than a straw man.  

I found the emphasis on what Byatt deemed magic SHOULD be to be 
unwarranted. I'm closer to thinking Hensher got it right by being 
more charitable to the goals of the work.


> <now madeyemood>
> I think that there certainly are "better" books than Potter out 
there, 
> for sure. But this is a special sort of cultural phenomenon. I 
could see 
> a Chekhov play instead of watching "6 Feet Under", but I'd rather 
> participate in a more culturally relevant experience. Besides, 
Peter 
> Krause is hot. But I digress...

LOL!  That is true as well. I never watched Smallville for its deep 
characters or sophisticated themes.

> To quote the charming Leonard piece:
(As if we were choosing up for a secret society; as if we couldn't 
enjoy Hermione in the library while at the same time taking a 
bloodthirsty interest in Hazel the Warrior Rabbit.) And finally the 
world-weary and wart-afflicted who complain about the mediocre 
movies, the media hype, the marketing blitz

I really liked this article - unlike Taylor's piece it had something 
to say instead of just launching a ridiculous attack on Byatt.  Well 
I agree about the first point - we can like all types of stories.

 I have to disagree about the second. To say that by criticizing the 
work are only making fools of oneself by trying to be contrary to the 
media blitz but in reality following along is oxymoronic.   
I think the only way to keep me from becoming a weary media lemming 
(what can I say - I'm weak)  is for people within communities 
(whatever they are - political, literary etc...) to use said media to 
challange the status quo. 

Status quo was that the new Potter was sublime and Rowling was better 
than ever.  Byatt simply had a different view.  A good media bounds 
the ball around and makes us think.  I think Fay Weldon was also very 
insightful when she said that Byatt was a party pooper but then they 
usually are right.  But really who ever liked it when the kid next to 
us said wisely - no we shouldn't. (Thus the reason so many hate 
Hermione.  She's an infuriating party pooper for much of the time.  
No Firewhisky for Ron I'm afraid....Byatt would not approve.)


> You sound like you have some sort of aesthetic gun pointing at your 
head and you'll be damned forever if you do the wrong thing. 
> I say: really, what difference does it make?

LOL! No not at all ... Just my dramatic way of thinking I am 
afraid.   

> madeyemood who has an incredibly disheartening summer cold.

Ahhh poor you.  

Golly