Theoretical boundaries

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 120385


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "lupinlore" <bob.oliver at c...> 
wrote:
I think what I and others are getting at when we talk about 
inconsistency is *MAINLY* tone -- although I do still think there are 
issues with characterization, that isn't what I'm talking about 
here.  Because the books are linked together, when the tone shifts, 
our view of the events in the earlier books is suddenly wrenched into 
a different mode.  What was not problematic before, because it was a 
fairy tale, IS now.
 Now, the question is, what do we make of this change in tone.  It 
is, as a narrative technique, good writing or not?  And that is very 
subjective.  Some find it original and fresh.  Others, a great many, 
aren't so sure.  By changing genre, JKR in effect changes the rules 
about what can and cannot be expected.  Is that interesting, or is it 
a form of narrative cheating?  One of my friends upon reading OOTP 
was highly insulted, as she saw it as an exercise in JKR taunting her 
readers, in effect saying "AHA! Gotcha!  You *thought* you knew what 
was going on but I fooled you!"  I wouldn't go that far, but I'm not 
prepared to say I think the sudden change in tone was a particularly 
good idea.  One can make all sorts of intellectual arguments as to 
why it's appropriate, given the developing age of the characters, 
etc., but as a *narrative* technique, i.e. as a method used to tell a 
story, it left a lot of people with a sour taste in their mouths, and 
set the stage for the enormous emotional backlash we've seen the last 
couple of years.


Alla:

Oh, I get it finally, I think. :o)

Yes, even though I find characterisation to be consistent, I do agree 
that tone of the narration had changed. Definitely.

Let me see whether I can express clearly why it did not bother me at 
all.

Maybe because subconsciously I WANTED the tone to change. I was 
afraid that after Graveyard we won't see any consequences for Harry.

I am glad I was wrong.

Maybe because I read too many fanfic stories,where authors predicted 
tone change to the darker one, that is why I was not so surprised.

I would found it strange if the tone would not change with Voldemort 
return, I suppose.


But I do understand what you are saying.

Maybe I did not expect such huge change in the tone, but yes, I found 
it to be appropriate for this book.




Lupinlore:
 
Another way of putting it is, did JKR intend to create the kind of 
emotional backlash she did with OOTP?  I rather doubt it.  I'm sure 
she intended to be provocative and surprising.  I'm not at all sure 
she intended to generate the kind of distaste and anger she has in a 
lot of quarters.  Now, I think this is due to the fact, as I've said 
before, that she doesn't realize what the implications of the story 
seem like to somebody who's coming at it fresh without her years of 
pondering it.  For instance, I really rather doubt she intended for 
people to react so negatively to Dumbledore.  But that is because she 
has dwelled with this story so long she in effect didn't realize what 
she was saying when she had him say and do a lot of the stuff he did 
in OOTP.  Oh, I think she meant to humanize him and show his flaws.  
I *don't* think she meant him to come off as stupidly as he does, or 
to raise all the moral issues OOTP raises -- such as all the 
Snape/Dursley abuse stuff.
> 
> Wow, long answer.  But I'm still just grazing the surface of this, 
> which is enormously complicated and can be rather subtle.  But I 
> *think* I've touched the main point.  Let me know if I have not.



Alla:

Yes, you did. The funny thing is that I at first wanted to say that I 
disagree with your assertion that JKR did not intend to create such 
emotional reaction to OOP, but when you gave Dumbledore as an 
example, I think I may agree.

Indeed, nowhere in the interviews she even hints that she considers 
Dumbledore to be manipulative, puppet master, whatever, he is always 
very wise man, epithome of goodness, etc.

Maybe you are right that she did not intend to create such reaction 
towards Dumbledore, but it happened nevertheless.