Theory of theme & Opinions & The Occult

[sevenhundredandthirteen]

No: HPFGUIDX 112027

Nora wrote:

> I suspect I may be misinterpreting what's being argued over at 
this 
> point of the debate, but the relationship to 'real world occult' 
is a 
> little interesting.
<snip>
> JKR doesn't believe in magic.  This is interview certified.  
<snip>
> Or maybe I'm just confused by the statement, whether it's being 
said 
> as a pro or contra, that JKR is writing a book about the real 
world 
> occult--because she's not. 

Laurasia:

Yes. I was being cheeky. Caspen and I are arguing over so many 
things it's hard to keep them straight. One of the things we are 
debating if whether you should take the author's intent into 
account. Caspen wrote that we cannot and that any time I am making 
an attempt to judge whether one theory or the other is intended by 
JKR (in order to give her credit for writing in it) I am really only 
using my own opinions, not proper reasoning.

However, one of the themes which all this originally started from 
was whether the magic in HP was just fun or ironic. I made the last 
comment to try and trap Caspen, because the only way we can know if 
something is meant to be taken ironically or literally if is we 
understand that author's intent. 

So my comment was just a cheeky way of trying to make it look as 
though Caspen's reasoning was contradicting theories which Caspen 
had put forth. That is, if we are meant to stop guessing the 
author's intent, how can we then turn around and make the 
hypocritical statement that the author is being ironic, which relies 
so heavily on intent? I was  suggesting that if we remove all the 
facts from interviews where JKR denies that she believes in real 
world magic (which display her intent), the only conclusion that we 
are left with is that JKR likes magic- either as fictional fun or 
real world power. Which, as we know, is incorrect- because JKR told 
us that was not her intent.

Effectively, I was saying that Caspen and I believe the same thing: 
that you can take author's intent into account by using information 
from canon and interview etc, and that the theory that magic is 
cunningly ironic is a good indication that Caspen believes that.

Of course, I'm probably wrong and I hate presuming things about 
other people's opinion. Can't wait for a reply from Caspen.

~<(Laurasia)>~