WW as Parasite (was:Snape's iPod (was: Staff's Activities...)

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 142612

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > I think you missed my point here. Rock music formed from a very 
> > specific cultural evolution.  There is nothing within the WW's 
> > history to think that they would have formed that type of music 
> > completely (or even partially) on their own.  So the Weird      
> > Sisters *must* have formed because of Muggle music wizards heard 
> > and shared with each other.  They could not exist otherwise.

> >>Nora: 
> That's not true.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Well, you're the doctoral student (I believe) so I'll have to take 
your word for it. <g>  Though it flies in the face of everything 
I've ever read on the history of rock music.  (What culture, totally 
seperated from the US also created rock?  I'm genuinely curious.)

I still think it's a huge leap of faith to say that the Muggle world 
and the WW, while travelling on parallel tracks, that never, ever 
touched, came up with the exact same form of music at the exact same 
time. 

And I'm still confused at why it's patently impossible for Snape to 
have been exposed to punk rock.

> >>Nora:
> One other thing that comes to mind is that *no* Muggle group is    
> going to be active participants in the methods of dissemination    
> that the WW takes part in.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
That's why I used the word "parasite".  I think the word "exploite" 
got thrown around as well. 

> >>Nora:
> <snip>
> Because on a simple factual level, and even dealing with details, 
> there are things that make sense and things which 
> just...well...don't.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
I guess my point is that there is more that doesn't make sense if 
one insists that there is no blending of the two worlds, at all.  
And there is more that *does* make sense if one works with the idea 
that the two cultures *do* blend.  Especially since JKR has given us 
specific examples of wizards venturing out into the Muggle world.  
(The QWC is a perfect example, I think.  The interaction with the 
Muggle Prime Minister is another.)

(Thanks for the Wainscot Fantasy definition, by the way. Good to 
know. <g>)

> >>Nora:
> I don't think I've ever said that there haven't been borrowings.  
> What I'm arguing, again, is the point that people in the WW seem 
> rather unlikely to go forth and make central the consumption of 
> specific Muggle musical products.  Have we ever heard of anyone 
> reading a recognizable piece of Muggle literature?  Not outside of 
> a thousand bleach-to-brain fanfics.

Betsy Hp:
Actually, I was under the impression that "no borrowings" was your 
main point.  That for some reason it was near impossible for a 
wizard to ever hear Muggle music and to suggest otherwise was to 
enter the realm of crap fanfic.

[As an aside: You and I must read completely different fanfics.  
There are some quite good fics out there that deal with the blending 
of the various cultures.  Copperbadge's "Stealing Harry" comes to 
mind.  Of course, that may well be your version of a crappy fic, so 
there you go. <g>]

To clarify my point, I'm not suggesting that the WW goes out enmass 
to consume Muggle music and culture.  Rather that there are those 
wizards with an interest who *do* venture into the Muggle world, and 
then bring Muggle items back into the WW, giving them their own 
wizarding twist for the more squeamish wizards to consume. 

> >>Betsy Hp:
> > Yes, because inventing your own spells and improving on various 
> > potions is such a sign of a lack of patience. (Sorry. Couldn't   
> > help myself. <g>)

> >>Nora: 
> Invention patience...ah, not the same animal as listening to music 
> (especially the music you all wanted to ascribe to him) as        
> anything more than aural wallpaper. :)

Betsy Hp:
I've never suggested Snape as a composer.  I suggested he was a 
listener.  I *can* say, with a great deal of authority, that one can 
listen to and enjoy Debussy or Beethoven or Rachmaninov or Velvet 
Underground or even ABBA (yes, even ABBA!) without taking special 
courses or having a specialized type of patience. <bg>

Betsy Hp