4 posts tagged “harry potter”
After the moral themes of the book on meritocracy, freedom and equality, I was a bit disappointed by the ending. I won't give anything away. All I am saying is that this last book offered an opportunity to be as clear as possible about the evils of hypocrisy, self-hatred and of racism -- for both individuals and society at large. After a title like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the previous book), I was expecting a bit more. Perhaps J.K. Rowling thought it might be overkill to state things clearly. I for one am not so sure.
- On Harry Potter and Mudbloods, Jack and Jill Politics, 07.23.07
I think JK was spot on in the way she handled these themes. Always a running undercurrent of her 7 novels, the prickly problems of race and class are rarely the primary theme but are often the key turning points in the relationships and fortunes of characters on both sides of the wand. The characters I most associate with racism, The Malfoys and The Dursleys, consistently get their just desserts and The Malfoys, in particular, have an absolutely awful go of it over the last two books (while still clinging heartily to their beliefs in blood purity). Meanwhile, everyone except Hermione accepts the concept of an elfen underclass that they generally treat horribly, to such a degree, in fact, that an elf's entire world view is overthrown by simple acts of kindness and appreciation. And, in the Deathly Hallows, we are presented with the complication of goblins. Goblins, while generally distasteful, seem to have a pretty compelling reason for distrusting and disliking humanity.
The strongest statement that JK could and does make is that while we all must navigate this maze of societal ooze, life is happening. It goes on.
note: I can't contain myself anymore so I'm going to start discussing The Deathly Hallows. Read on at your peril.
Perhaps it's blasphemy to even suggest it, but didn't the epilogue read to you as a perfect seven-page treatment for the pilot of Hogwarts: The Next Generation, airing at 5:30 weekdays on The N? Think of it! Short, silly half-hour stories, set among students preoccupied not by the specter of unthinkable evil but by the more daunting prospects of homework, cliques, and navigating their way through adolescence.
- SPOILER! The real wizardry in Deathly Hallows, Slate, 07.24.07
One of the most interesting and debatable areas of the book is the epilogue and where our heroes are as adults. We're given an unexpected result -- normalcy -- and a quick peek at the next generation of wizards. I'm willing to put Harry's adventures to rest but I could get down with checking out the new kids and a world of fantasy and magic where death isn't lurking around every corner. With a little teen angst thrown in for good measure.
The Call to Shakabaz utilizes the classic African motif of little creatures finding a clever way to overcome the mighty and it builds on the bedrock of "what goes around comes around" by emphasizing the values of compassion and respect for others. The wise woman is called the "griot," the natural environment provides necessary answers when approached with care, and music solves more than one problem. In fact, music and drumming might qualify as a character in this book.
- What If Harry Potter Was Black? by Ron Reed, BlackNews.com
(hat tip: GK)
I really shouldn't be pointing you to abcfamily.com until we launch the new 25 Days of Christmas site on Wednesday (which will be the first salvo in our giant redesign effort) but I've got some hot programming news. We'll be providing the first look (well, first in depth look because the trailer launches on Monday) at Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix during the first weekend of the 25 Days programming block. December 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, we will be showing the first 3 films and giving a sneak peek at the newest and most depressing HP film yet.
Sometimes, we rule.
