Hogwarts a nice place? (Was Re: The Movie vs. JKR?)

[entropymail]

No: HPFGUIDX 100385

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "dan" <darkthirty at s...> wrote:
> "snow15145" wrote:
Hogwarts was like a comfortable old shoe; it fit well. When you're 
tired and just want to escape to a magical world you could visually 
go there via the movies....

>Dan:
Hogwarts is a place with bullies and bigots (Slytherin, Ravenclaw to 
Luna), nasty (Snape), evil (Lockhart - seriously debilitating charms,
 Umbridge - torture) or even murderous (Quirrell, Lupin?!?!) teachers,
inept, dangerous politicians and bureaucrats (Fudge, Percy), children
of radical racial purists, collapsed secret tunnels (the one behind
the mirror), deadly hidden chambers (COS), nearly unusable washrooms 
(the girl's washroom where Myrtle hangs out), a poltergeist who
delights in breaking stuff, throwing things at students and practising
the insult of the day. 



Entropy:

Well, I think this has to be looked upon on two levels.  

Firstly,  I believe Snow is referring to the readers'/viewers'
perspective.  For me, Hogwarts and the entire Potterverse are nice
places to visit.  Living in the "real" world can be a bit much
sometimes, and visiting Harry's world, whether through books or
movies, is always a wonderful way to transcend everyday life. The
world that JKR has created has always been, for me, a world that's
bigger than life, a world of rich leather, golden things (like
snitches and Dumbledore's instruments),  and warm, fuzzy socks.  In my
opinion, the first two movies reflected the "spirit" of the books not
because they followed them to the letter, but because they caught this
warmth perfectly.   The third movie was, for me, a big disappointment,
not because "immobulus" stops the whomping willow or Flitwick looks
funny, but because it hasn't captured the beauty of the books.
Hogwarts has become crumbly, Dumbledore needs a bath, and the Great
Hall doesn't take my breath away.  I could be very wrong, but I don't
think that's what JKR had in mind.

Secondly, there is (sorry, not trying to put words in your mouth)
Dan's perspective of Hogwarts being a scary place for Harry.  And,
yes, I agree that the place is full  of scary spiders , ghosts,
three-headed dogs, murderous villians, and really snarky potions
masters.  But, by the same token, Privet Drive is a place full of 
bullying uncles, spiteful aunts, and cousins who enjoy dunking your
head in the toilet.  What's the difference? Harry's power.   Not
magical power necessarily, but his power to affect his surroundings. 
At Privet Drive, he is friendless, hopeless, and powerless.  He lives,
figuritively and literally, locked up.  He is at the mercy of  the
whims of those around him. 

At Hogwarts, however, Harry has people who love him. He has  his
friends and the Weasleys, the professors, and Dumbledore. And he has a
growing sense of his own power. 

Hogwarts may be a dangerous place, but it's the first place Harry's
ever been where he's had any happiness or security because it's the
first place he's had a sense of hope for his future.

:: Entropy ::