Oh my goodness, what book are THEY reading?

[albusthewhite]

No: HPFGUIDX 106851

Wow, what an interesting article - and equally interesting responses.  Seems like some are 
reacting to the level of competition at Hogwarts - which really is cutthroat.  But without 
that competition, that deeply ingrained conflict, the story wouldn't be nearly as 
compelling.  When I was a kid in school, there really were self-imposed divisions between 
the students, cliques and groups and whatnot, and the rivalry between them seemed 
intense at the time.  I think that's why the HP books are so popular with kids - the rivalry 
between Harry and Draco, that stark black and white/good and evil division, this really 
reflects the way kids process social life.  

As the author of the article in question points out (albeit with questionable evidence at 
times), the books really are steeped in capitalist rhetoric and methodology, and I don't 
know how to explain it.  The function of money, to use just one example, is so very 
important in the books.  Perhaps this is related to JKR's financial situation (and its 
fluctuations) while writing these books.  But there are other cultural values that are also an 
inherent part of the HP world.  My favorite is the amount of meat, particularly processed 
meat, that these kids consume.  There are so many references to sausages, bacon, blood 
puddings and other meat products - probably because traditional English food is so 
heavily dependant on the stuff.  (Not that we Americans don't love a good steak!)  
Hardcore vegetarians should be appalled!  Harry and Ron ought to have their cholesterol 
checked!  :)  

Of course I'm (mostly) kidding - my point is that while our political values are very 
important, and while we absolutely *should* examine our literature, cinema, etc. to see 
what kind of political messages they contain (for they all have some political statement), 
we should also be sophisticated enough to disengage from that discourse in order to 
enjoy some world-class storytelling.  AND we should be able to read and understand 
criticism of those books and films, even when we disagree with them, without resorting to 
brutish bullying (as seen in certain anti-French, anti-academic remarks).

Albus the White