Harry, Ginny, and age appropriateness...

[sienna291973]

No: HPFGUIDX 136152

Adam:
I find the issue of JKR's responsibility as an author to be 
interesting. I don't recall the source (I think it was the A&E 
Biography from 2003), but JKR acknowledged the criticism for the 
darkening, violent depictions in her stories.

She went on to say that she is writing these stories for herself and 
that she is not going to compromise her vision because someone might 
be offended. IMO, the only possible responsibility an author has is 
to not
mislead readers about the content of his/her work. Even then, I think 
this is more the responsibility of the publisher than the author. I 
grow weary of blaming the creator of an artistic work, whether 
literature, music, painting, etc. for the negative impact that work 
might have on children.

Now me:
Adam, this is indeed a complex issue and more complex I think than 
what Rowling herself would accept (which is where my problem starts). 
There is a fair amount of validity in what you say here but at the 
same time the reality *also* is that a well-loved author such as JK 
Rowling *does* contribute to the collective psychology of young 
people, regardless of whether she accepts the responsibility that 
comes with that or not. Yes, she has the right to write the books 
exactly as she wants to and she *was* very open about her intentions 
regarding the violence in the books. However, it is also true that 
regardless of the fact that she is writing for herself, she is also 
writing for legions of young children. If she wishes to blank them 
out in order to finish her work without pressure, that is her 
prerogative, but that doesn't mean they've gone away or that her 
responsibility to them is any less because she doesn't acknowledge 
it. What it does mean, is that it falls upon fans like us to be 
critical of the subtextual messages behind the text (conscious or 
unconscious) because the author herself is not paying any attention 
to them.

But yes, I agree, she does share that responsibility with parents and 
publishers, teachers and the media.

Adam:
Besides, if we're going to discuss the effects of pop culture on 
child development, I can think of cartoons that depict a much more 
warped view of interpersonal relationships. Why should JKR be slammed 
for showing a romantic relationship between 2 teenagers? Harry was 
always
respectful of Ginny. There is no mention of him forcing himself on 
her or doing anything inappropriate. Despite what any of us thinks 
about whether the ship should/should not have been more fully 
developed in text, I simply do not see anything unhealthy about the 
depiction. Maybe what some imagine is going behind the scenes is 
unhealthy, but I do not see how someone's imagination is the fault of 
the author.

Now me:
I actually think there is a fair bit to be said against the way male/ 
female relationships are portrayed in general in the HP series but 
that is another post (and a long one at that). Realistic some may 
think them but almost all the romantic relationships in the HP 
universe are stereotypes of one sort or another (IMO). They subvert 
nothing, challenge nothing and ultimately, for all the strength in 
the female characters, paint a very comfortable patriarchal view of 
the world. And it disappoints me because I think she had the ability 
to do better.

JMO, as always.

Sienna