Is There Alternating Current in Harry's World?

[justcorbly]

No: HPFGUIDX 184219


Barry said:

> To my mind, JKR has not situated Potterverse in modern times at all.
> As I've said in previous posts, it seems almost medieval - at latest
> WW2.

Justcorbly says:

First, sorry about the empty post immediately preceding this one. I was using the beta 
editor and it obviously demonstrated why it is still in beta.

Rather than try to remember the long and oh-so-wise post that went missing, I'll just 
summarize with these points:

1.  There's a lot to be said for Barry's insight.  My initial impression was of a world that 
came close to being a caricature of 1950's England. The Dursley's seem to me exaggerated 
fifties stereotypes; at times their characterization is almost over-the-top. Except for the 
flavor of the music played by the bands that show up a few times to entertain the kids,  it's 
as if the 1960's never happened.

2. I think JKR deliberately glosses over the intersections between wizards and the world of 
Muggles.  First, because doing that isn't necessary to her narrative.  Two, because those 
intersections must certainly be more numerous and more problematic than we are led to 
surmise by the novels.

3. One of those intersections would be between Muggle parents of wizards and everyone 
else in their world.  Do Hermione's parents simply lie all the time?  Does she?  Or does she 
never come home for a visit?  Hermione and her parents have relatives, friends, etc., who 
will naturally ask questions about her.  What kind of answers do they get? Surely, 
Hermione must turn up at the odd wedding, funeral, holiday dinner, etc.  it seems to me 
that people like Hermione, and their families, must live secret double lives as complex as 
that of any undercover intelligence operative. (I don't accept the answer that "It's Magic!"  
That's too easy and facile.  If wizards could fix everything via magic, they would have no 
problems or conflicts and JKR would have no plot.)

4. Owls are no substitute for email.  For one, they're slow.  Secondly, an owl can't 
simultaneously  deliver one message to multiple recipients. And how come Muggles 
haven't noticed all those owls flying around with little scrolls in their beaks?

5. Getting back to electricity...  Harry and his friends could have used cellphones on more 
than one occasion.  :-)

Justcorbly