[HPforGrownups] Re: The Huge overreactions from a five minute time span

[Karen]

No: HPFGUIDX 150318


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Lisa 
  To: HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Friday, March 31, 2006 12:44 AM
  Subject: [HPforGrownups] Re: The Huge overreactions from a five minute time span


    Hi, haven't posted in a while, but I have a comment to make on the 
  following -- if I can find the exact quote, I'll post a link.

  >    
  > kchuplis:
  > >> <snip> We have no idea how much bias colors a pensieve memory.
  > And seeing anything in isolation can be deceiving. I really can't
  > see everyone calling James a great guy (and everyone HAS except
  > Snape) if he was really as big of a git all the time as the pensieve
  > scene showed. <snip> <<

  Actually, we do know that bias does not color a pensieve memory at 
  all.  JKR was asked this question (I really want to say it was the 
  Mugglenet/Leaky Cauldron interview -- but I'm sure someone will correct 
  me if I'm wrong!), and she said that the pensieve memories are fact, 
  not colored by the individual's bias at all.  That is the great benefit 
  of a pensieve -- to be able to look back and examine the facts to see 
  clearly what happened.  ;0)


  kchuplis:

  Someone posted it. I guess interviews are considered canon (although, I"m not sure I agree with that. Once something leaves an artist, part of it's life is it's own two feet).  However, I still think everything was portrayed exactly, but I cannot say that seeing an incident in isolation is not bias in itself. We still think of it without connection to anything else. I still wonder if there isn't a memory somewhere of Snape bullying a first year with something really evil and James coming across it and stopping him, for instance, which makes the pensieve scene look completely different. I can actually see even another level where Snape, who is pretty brilliant, and obviously an unhappy child (ok, there are only two scenes supporting this but still, I would guess that makes it pretty canon or JKR would have given us a look see at least at ONE happy Snape memory);  crying as his parents fought and alone in a room shooting flies out of the air (which, sorry but to me that is not real far off from pulling wings off butterflies just because of the description - he was bored, not being annoyed by them), and maybe he caused nasty things to people he didn't like even without trying or meaning to (ala Tom Riddle minus the intention) and James caught him at it or was the recipient of it. That's, IMO, a type of bias when you see a pensieve scene.

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