A classic / Down on the Characters or the times we live in

[horridporrid03]

No: HPFGUIDX 179378

> >>Barry:
> Many of us have expressed disappointment at the HP series, mostly
> because DH left so much unanswered. I was wondering whether because of
> this that HP will endure or not? Will the current crop of readers    
> refer the next generation to it?

Betsy Hp:
I'm going to go out on a bit of a limb and say that I don't think the 
Potter series is going to last.  It will be interesting to see, because 
there is a *huge* marketing machine behind it at this point, especially 
with the movies still being made, but I don't think the machine will be 
able to keep the books afloat forever.  And I don't think there's 
enough substance to the series itself to keep the books popular on 
their own merits.  Which segues nicely into...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/179319
> >>Jeanette: 
> > It just might be me but since the release of DH there seems
> > to be a very negative feel to a lot of the posts.
> > <snip>

> >>Jim Ferer:
> I believe it's at least partly the times we live in. A reflection of
> this is `gotcha' journalism, where the flaws everyone has are picked
> like scabs. It's a kind of nihilism. The essential fact of the story
> is that Harry, Dumbledore, Hermione, Ron, Neville and all the rest got
> the mission done. It wasn't always pretty and never perfect but that's
> how great things are. People who get things done understand that.
> <snip>

Betsy Hp:
Hilariously (or at least, I find it amusing <g>) I thought the reason 
JKR wrote such an... empty ending was due to a certain amount of 
cynicism or nihilim on her part.  That there are no such things as true 
heroes so the Trio and Order are the best we can do.  That there is no 
way to improve our world for the better so the WW remains xenophobic 
and dark and house-elves remain slaves.  That all morals are relative 
so there's no such thing as a "bad" action.  That people for the most 
part suck so it's only practical to judge them young and only trust 
those you find personally pleasing (and even then, most aren't much use 
to you).

I thought the bleakness and hopelessness of the conclusion was supposed 
to point towards a brave kind of "realism".  At least, that's what I've 
been told.  It's not to my taste.  But it's not because I'm a 
nihilist.  In fact, I'd say it's quite the opposite. 

Betsy Hp