[HPforGrownups] Love vs. eros (was Harry Potter is a CHILDREN'S BOOK)

[Jesta Hijinx]

No: HPFGUIDX 81122


>
> > Sue: "Why is it that it's ok for JKR to write about war, death,
> > racism, oppression, torture, cruelty etc etc, but some people seem to
> > think that it's not ok for her to write about sexuality?">>
>
[a lot of good stuff snipped]
Urghiggi
>
>As adults we're all (presumably) pretty danged interested in eros. But 
>we'r=
>e
>not the primary targets for the message. That we love it and are 
>fascinated=
>  by
>it seems to indicate to me that we, too, have some kind of thirst for 
>model=
>s of
>true philea and agape love -- as well as an obsessive interest in bizarre 
>p=
>lot
>twists and obscure predictive clues, of course.
>
>urghiggi, chgo
>
This has been a very interesting thread - and I think these two remarks from 
Sue and Urghiggi are great jumping off points for what I want to say:  first 
of all, I agree with Sue that dealing with sexuality would be a healthy 
twist (and *is* a healthy twist) when set alongside violence - considered a 
suitable theme for young people to be exposed to.

Urghiggi comments on the adult nature of being interested in eros.  I'd 
state that while that is present, an essential part of an 
adult/mature/maturing viewpoint as well is the ability to experience the 
other types of love discussed - philea, agape, caritas - without 
experiencing the "need" to express every one sexually.  Likewise, if JKR 
were to explore a more sexual theme, I'd really like to see her do so while 
emphasizing the importance of the emotional aspect of it = truly love, as 
opposed to sexuality as purely experimentation.  My objection to the media 
bombardment of us with sexual/eros messages is not that sexuality is 
unnatural but that the emphasis seems to be on the exploitative/acquisitive 
nature of human sexuality, and not the emotional side - the need to hold off 
on the sexual expression until the emotional aspect is present in order to 
build and maintain lasting bonds, for example.

I believe that a writer with JKR's skill and finger on the pulse of how 
young people work could explore this theme skillfully and tastefully; if she 
chooses to do so, I can think of no author writing today who could handle it 
better.

Felinia

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