Manifesto?

[nrenka]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Charme" <dontask2much at y...> 
wrote:

> Charme, chortling:
> 
> But the questions "does this work?" or "is it convincing?" are 
> never asked. Least not to what I see and perceive, anyway. Instead, 
> most of the argument or presentation of that view is fraught with 
> value and moral judgement, then low and behold,  one then needs to 
> add some scripture to the mix to support his/her point of view? 
> Naaa, it's better I don't read the tainted thread. I 
> might...*snap*...or somethin' :)

There's an undue amount of moral indignation, true.  But at least I 
(having sadly read all of the posts at one time or another) do hear 
the "This doesn't make SENSE!" cry coming through, in the "If DD is 
X, then how can he do Y and Z?".  Of course, what makes sense depends 
in part upon what frame of reference you bring to reading...that 
applies to all the Puppetmaster!DD theories floating around here, too.
 
Reading without value judgements--I don't think that's completely 
possible, nor, to be moderately more controversial, is it a form of 
reading that the text would encourage.  While it's not a lecture, 
Harry Potter has some strong moralizing elements that function as a 
real turn-off to some people.  I see a few sources of disgruntlement:

1.  Disquiet with JKR's moral universe.  Frequently coupled with 
laments about Slytherin House.  A result of wildly disjunct horizons 
and a disinclination to want to get in and understand what the text 
is doing, even if it's not something you like.

2.  Complaints about continuity and "this doesn't make sense", raised 
on all sides.  Not a complaint to just toss aside unless you think 
absolutely everything in the book will prove out as meaningful.  That 
theory doesn't have a good track record...

3.  Disillusionment caused by 'rejection' by the author.  We read and 
we project...and it can be awfully hard to toss one's cherished ideas 
out the window after 2-3 years feeding them and calling them George.  
See the proliferation of 'fanon' out in the wide world as the most 
common response to when things don't go the way a fan wants them to.

> Charme:
> 
> In the words of the infamous Valley Girls, I so, like, totally 
> agree. Choices, choices. Wouldn't it be better for some of them to 
> just not buy and read the books if it's so upsetting? ;)

Never underestimate the human capacity for masochism. :)

-Nora wakes up with the sun