Subverting the genre?

[carolynwhite2]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Barry Arrowsmith" 
<arrowsmithbt at b...> wrote:
>
> --- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Talisman" 
<talisman22457 at y...> wrote:
> > 
> > Indeed, I propose a lovely coat of arms for the Kneasy line:
> > Leering ginger cat, rampant, and the motto: *Everything is lewd.*
> > 
> 
> Already got one, thanks - a Bibulous Degenerate Couchant above
> the motto "Otia Dant Vitia".


Jane, as always, knew all about your sort:

'I am afraid that the pleasantness of an employment does not always 
evince its propriety.' 


> 
> If she really intends to subvert the fantasy genre she'll do the 
exact opposite.
> Harry loses, Voldemort wins, evil triumphs. 
> A bit like the end of '1984'.
> That really would break the mould of the fantasy ethic.
> 

I wonder what ending would suit the mood of the first decade of the 
21st century? Orwell wrote 1984 in fear of totalitarianism and in the 
aftermath of two World wars.  Sixty years on, what makes sense, what 
was DD afraid might happen?

- destruction of planet: definitely - we saw a bit of that with the 
giants getting going in HBP; expect more and worse
- loss of individual freedoms because of the threat of terrorism: 
definitely - everyone is very fearful; can't travel freely; passwords 
needed all the time
- demonisation of certain cultures: definitely - giants, werewolves 
and such like
- bogus bogeymen: definitely - you mean, they really couldn't have 
taken out Voldie if they wanted to given his Evil Overlord record?
- lying politicians trying to cover their butts: definitely - 
Scrimgeour, Fudge, even dear Dolly are still around
- arms/military proliferation: definitely - see Gred & Forge's 
activities; V's use of mercenaries (eg Fenrir)
- powerful intelligence agencies: definitely - do you trust the 
auror's further than you can throw them?
- final nuclear deterrents: definitely - see horcrumblebombs
- lack of democratic processes: definitely - no one's been given the 
chance to vote for anything useful yet in the WW
- amateur protest groups: definitely - what else do you call a bunch 
of kids, their teachers, their pets and a half man, half horse?
- powerful commercial interests: definitely - step forward Lucius and 
your cronies, and all the denizens of Knockturn Alley.
- an international media easily bought off or distracted by 
titillation: definitely, see The Daily Prophet
- a corrupt sporting culture: definitely - just replay the QWC in 
your mind, or re-read QTTA

So the ingredients are all there. Now, she says she isn't writing in 
the fantasy genre, just for herself. She's a realist and formerly 
worked for Amnesty; she knows what human beings can do to each other. 
And she values courage above anything. Is it credible that we get a 
heart-warming ending that puts everything right, and gives us 
buttered scones for tea?

Definitely hope not. Heroic ending, the kid goes down proving some 
kind of point, but to no great purpose in the great scheme of things. 

Carolyn
..always cheered up by a Kneasy post