Gryffindor & Slytherin roles (was Villain!Dumbledore)

[sistermagpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 177741

> > Magpie:t. 
> > 
> > 
> > I guess the problem is "the lie" that Lizzyben mentioned. Adam 
> > pointed out that "the lie" is not a lie, because Slytherin 
really is 
> > bad. There was no turnaround where we learned that Slytherins 
only 
> > seemed bad through the lense of our heroes. 
> 
> Pippin:
> But there is a turnaround where we learn they're not as bad as
> they looked through the lenses of our heroes. 

Magpie:
Actually, that's not exactly true from my perspective because they 
didn't look as bad to me as they looked to Harry throughout. But 
regardless, we're still talking about "not as bad as"--not good. No 
crisis for Harry in terms of his own perspective or anything about 
himself. I don't remember any scene where I thought Harry felt his 
prejudices were being called on. I thought he was firmly on the side 
of "prejudice is bad!" and that his own "prejudice" on the part of 
Slytherins wasn't in the end prejudice at all. Snape and Draco were 
jerks, they did join Voldemort, they just weren't fully evil. It's a 
change, but more from the improper way to view Slytherins to the 
proper way without the Slytherins ever being equals.


> Magpie:
> Actually, maybe it does say things about bigotry, 
> > just not things I really think are true or challenging. I mean, 
if 
> > you're a regular middle class British kid you've pretty much got 
> > nothing to learn. You get rid of the kids bullying you and then 
you 
> > take your correct place in society.
> 
> Pippin:
> This doesn't take into account how powerless  kids, even
> regular British middle class kids, really are. They don't need
> to be made to feel they are evil for having vengeful thoughts 
> about the bullies or wishing that they could know in advance 
> who the bad people are. That is the way kids think, it's
> normal for them to think that way, and it's the reason we
> don't put them in charge. 

Magpie:
So they're fine the way they are. They don't need to be challenged 
in this way and they weren't. Though the last thing I'd call any one 
of the Trio was powerless, and I actually don't think there's 
anything wrong with pointing out the power kids often do have over 
other kids and other people. 

-m