Chapter Nineteen
The Lion and the Serpent
Useless Fact: This is the chapter I read first when I got my copy, purely on the basis of the title.
( Read more... )
Useless Fact: This is the chapter I read first when I got my copy, purely on the basis of the title.
( Read more... )
Ugh. That just reminds me of frigging Movie!Buckbeak - look how cute it is! (I love that bit in PoA about how Hagrid's had dangerous animals before, but this one's "positively cute" and seems "harmless". Presumably Norbert and Aragog were more dangerous since they hurt Gryffindors.) It nuzzles Harry and saves him and Hermione from the werewolf! Marvel at the stupid line about saving two innocent lives! Seriously.
My sister, who has no fandom interests whatever (she won't read the books, she sees the movies under duress, and loathes each character equally) was mystified by that.
'Uh. Didn't the bird thing bash the balding kid?'
'Yep.'
'So how does that make it innocent? Was it all an optical illusion?'
'I know! -'
''K, shut up now.'
Not that slash writers necesarily put more stock on "equality between genders" than Harry or JKR does, but yeah, it's definitely a reason for why it's often more tempting to ship teh boys with other boys.
True. I guess I cut them more slack because most are younger than JKR (I presume!) and may be unconsciously influenced by the text's presentation (like, there was a thread on Pansy recently, basically: 'Why does she get portrayed in fanon as a shrill stupid harpy who only cares about looks and Draco?' Um. Because that's the way she comes across in canon. I mean, I like Pansy, myself, and I too get irritated when Shrill!Canon!Pansy gets turned into the Pansy that Malfoy loathes and is repulsed by, but that's bad Draco characterisation more than Pansy. The whole 'Pansy is ugly and superficial' trip is all in the text. Along with 'look how silly girls who have the slightest sexuality are'.)
I don't think that every single writer who writes a sexist fanfic would suddenly change if JKR's text was more feminist, but I don't think it would hurt.
Though "enemy-ship" doesn't necessarily equal "slash" you know. ;-)
Oops. I guess I'm a bit het-phobic here!
My first fandom was BTVS, tho, and my first OTP was Buffy/Spike.
I don't think Pansy would be very likely to step aside for Harry either (though maybe that's just wishful thinking...)
I hope not! But then you get into a whole new set of issues (I think I've got a bit on imho, H/P somewhere... *digs* http://www.livejournal.com/users/roxannelinton/28230.html)
I read a good, IC D/Hr short the other day tho, which might please you ;) http://www.livejournal.com/users/florahart/146266.html#cutid6
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True. I guess I cut them more slack because most are younger than JKR (I presume!) and may be unconsciously influenced by the text's presentation
The age thing is questionable, since fandom is of all ages, and I guess if it's one thing being in fandom has taught me, it's that age doesn't necessarily bring maturity, nor does it necessarily make a person more politically (and feministically) aware. But yes, no doubt are we all influenced by the source material, even if we try not to be. And an interesting question would be if readers are so willing to adapt the views on girls/women pesented in the books, because it really matches their own ideas, or whether they adapt the views because they are the ones presented in the books, and it's quite difficult to go against them? Or something.
I don't think that every single writer who writes a sexist fanfic would suddenly change if JKR's text was more feminist, but I don't think it would hurt.
No, it would definitely not hurt, but it might not make as big difference as one might think. Did you use to read fanfic, when you were B/S:er? Because my impression was that the majority of the writers there made that relationship, and the characters, fit much better in the traditional gender stereotypes, then the writers of the show ever did. Otoh, it might very well have been worse if the Canon!character had fallen neatly into their gender roles, so... yeah.
I hope not! But then you get into a whole new set of issues (I think I've got a bit on imho, H/P somewhere... *digs*
Yeah, I remember that entry, it was interesting. But I must say, even though I can completely see where you're coming from with both the "it makes Pansy a disloyal friend" factor and the "it's so good to have someone not loving Harry, and having them falling in love with him, seems like a punishment", I can't see why both of these wouldn't apply to H/D as well.
I read a good, IC D/Hr short the other day tho, which might please you ;)
Heh, interesting. I have to wonder if Hermione would really care enough about Draco not getting the Dark Mark though. Because I'm sure Harry wouldn't. ;-)
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