Identifying with Muggles in Potterverse - Humanities

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 158229

--- I "a_svirn" <a_svirn at ...> wrote:
>
> > Betsy Hp:
> <snip-snip> 
> > I wonder if it has to do with when the WW went into
> > hiding.  Did they hide before the Renaissance?  It 
> > would go along way towards explaining the darkness 
> > of their world.
> <and snip> 
> 
> > Exactly.  That's the saddest thing, to my mind.  That
> > these solid  English families have no idea about 
> > Shakespeare, ...  

> 
> a_svirn:
> Well, the stature of secrecy is 1696 or something, a 
> century after Shakespeare. So why wouldn't they know 
> about him? Wizards and muggles had a shared culture at
> the time.
>


bboyminn:

Let us not forget that the Wizard world and the Muggle 
world share /aspects/ of a common history and culture. 
At various times in history, the wizards and muggles
commingling to varying degrees. Sometimes wizards were 
part of the power structure and the advisors of kings -
honored members of the community, at other times they 
were known and accepted but kept a low profile, at
other times the were ferociously hunted and killed. 

Plus, in the modern age, there is a certain blending of 
the two worlds. Muggle-borns come to Hogwarts with music
and modern culture of their own. True, the wizard world
dominates at Hogwarts, but muggle students must have some
small influence. Clothing is a good example. While their
school uniforms are fixed and traditional, their 
'off-duty' clothes seem to be whatever fashions are 
common for kids of that age. Consequently, Fred and 
George are much more comfortable passing for muggles 
in common muggle clothes than their parents are.

Further, I think their is more art and culture than we 
are giving the wizard world credit for. I believe 
Dumbledore's Chocolate Frog card says he likes 10 pin
bowling and chamber music, and if I remember correctly
Flamel and his wife love opera. Also note that one time
when Harry goes to Slughorns office, he hears a 
gramphone playing; Slughorn is listening to music.

There is certainly enough music available to justify a
radio station (Wizard's Wireless). There are many 
periodical publications, and a large bookstore filled
with books. They can't all be Spell books. 

But you are all right, these things aren't taught at
Hogwarts. Though I will contest the idea that science
and technology are not taught at Hogwarts. It seems that
the wizard and muggle world went off on divergent paths
with wizards finding magical ways to solve their problems
and muggles using math and science to solve those same
problems. To wizards, magic IS science; it is science as
they understand it. 

As far as knowledge of Latin, I suspect part of the 
theory of magic is explaining the root words that make 
up a spell. So, Latin as the roots of magical words 
would be taught as part of the theory aspect of Charms
and Tranfiguration.

But, you are right, assorted Humanities and Liberal Arts
are not part of the Hogwarts curriculum, but there seems
to be many after-hours school clubs that Harry generally
steers clear of. Certainly these clubs would reflect the 
students interest to the extent that they are able to 
pursue them without the aid of technology. Part of the
problem is that Harry generally keeps to himself, and as
a result, there are many things are Hogwarts that we 
don't see. 

But overal the concensus is correct, if wizards pursue 
cultural experiences, they must do it on their own. 

Steve/bboyminn