Endings - OT Side Note - Comedy vs Tragedy

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 85200

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Berit Jakobsen" <belijako at o...>
wrote:
> bboy_mn wrote:
> 
> > ... But I would like to point out that the 'Happily Ever After' 
> > Romantic Comedy is pretty much an invention and mainstay of the 
> > USA. 
> > 
> > A substantial portion of the world, most notibly parts of Asia, and
> > Central and South America prefer a good tragedy to a romantic 
> comedy.
> > I think, although I will need someone to confirm it, that even parts
> > of Europe have a strong preference for dark drama and tragedy over 
> comedy.
> 
> Me (Berit):
> 
> Bboy_mn; are you implying I am an American? 

bboy_mn:

I'm not making a comment ABOUT you, I am making a comment TO you, and
that comment is, that a significant portion of the world really does
love a good tragedy. 


> Berit:
>
> Not all "foreigners" prefer dark endings and tragedy, as a European 
> I love happy endings. 

bboy_mn:

Point taken, but I never said 'all' or 'a mojority', only that
substantial amount of people of shared culture, do like tragedies.
With reference to Europe, I even left an element of doubt, as to how
wide spread it was, and apealed to more knowledgable people to clarify.

> Berit continue:
>
> But my cultural taste is probably under heavy American influence 
> then :-) 

bboy_mn:

Yes, I can see the dominance of USA created movies having a worldwide
influence, which is economically good, but not necessarily
artistically good. It tend to homogenize entertainment.

> Berit continues:
>
> ... incredibly disappointing if Harry, at the end..., woke up ..., 
> realizing he had only dreamt..., or; ...; Harry is denied the 
> magical world and all his best friends.... Better let Harry  die a 
> hero's death .... I'm not saying I WANT him to die, but I sure don't
> want him back to the dull, grey muggle world...
> 
> Berit

bboy_mn:

I agree with what you said. I don't want to see Harry die, or be
doomed to a mundane life as a muggle after experiencing the magic of
the wizard world, even with all it's faults.

However, the point I am making, is that the 'Happily Ever After' theme
is very much a cultural thing, and give JKR's worldliness, it's
possible her cultural sensibilities, do not conform to the notion that
 the hero always wins, and the story ends with him riding off into the
sunset with the 'girl'.

I hate the 'all a dream' idea, it seems like a cheating way out, but
it is a feasable ending.

I hate the 'loses his powers' ending because it is so bleak, but it
does contain an element of selflessness and self-sacrific which is a
theme that runs all though the story.

I hate 'the noble death' because it will be like having a close
personal friend die. If my best friend dies a heroes death, that
doesn't make the lose any less, and perhaps makes it more.

On the other hand, the 'happlily ever after' ending is about as
predictable, mundane, and common as you can get.

I can see Harry's last fighting as a long, agonizing, and painfull
battle as so many of his battles have been, one that leaves him near
dead, his spirit crushed, the cost of victory so desparately and
miserably high, that all Harry wants to do is fade away and live in
obscurity. To live a without ever hearing of war, dark wizards, and
death again.

All we can do is wait and see, but I see far more grim endings than
happy ones.

bboy_mn