Lexicon Update: "Fan Feud" by Tim Wu in The New Yorker *Updated*

[rattlesnakeroot]

PoW! Tim Wu must be the bravest man in the United States to write this article! Check out the caricature also!

The Bench: Fan Feud by Tim Wu

I'm glad he didn't call it "Family Feud" although it does have quite a bit of "Mom likes you best" in it!

I posted this link in the Leaky Lounge, then ran for my life. 

Update: Melissa Anelli has written a

Comments

[lunas_ceiling]

This is drama alright. I think I am totally stunned and have read this article 4 times in a half and hour. The caricature is incredible. I am still too stunned to write anything intelligent here. I'll get back to you after I recover.

[rattlesnakeroot]

I'm clearing my calendar for tomorrow. *lol*

[sander123]

Hahaha!
Great! I love it.

"Also to imply that any interaction with Jo is "status" - that's just flat-out disgusting. "

Why should that be? :D It's only true.

The Ararchne-allegory at the beginning is wonderful!

[rattlesnakeroot]

There are two Arachne references in the books (maybe more). I wrote about that in my essay about Magical Knots in The Plot Thickens book.

Madame Trelawney does her needlework up in the Tower, and while she never challenges McGonagall , they do bicker at Christmans Dinner in PoA. "Minerva" is the Roman form of the Goddess "Athena."

But the better example is in DH, and I hadn't thought of this till now, but Minerva/Athena chases Snape out of the school, and he is the "Spy-der" (remembering the clue from the maze in GoF). I certainly don't think that made McGonagall "better" than Snape - on the contrary.

Severus (Arachne) vs. Minerva (Athena)

[sander123]

Thanks SIP, for letting me know about replying on here even though I don't have an account.

The rivalry between the Heads of Slytherin and Gryffindor sets the base for the Arachne and Athena rivalry, I think. Minerva is set on attack while Severus is resolved to use his skills, not for attack -- but defense. Athena couldn't find flaws in Arachne's tapestry anymore then Minerva could find a flaw in Severus defensive spells, both where enraged by it. Also, Athena touched Arachne forehead to make her feel guilt and shame, perhaps this parallels Minerva shouting at Severus the word: coward. When Athena found Arachne had hung herself, she pitied (forgave ?) allowed her to live as a spider and all her descedants. So, maybe Minerva when she found out the truth about Severus, she pitied him (felt sorry for him, sympathy).

Re: Severus (Arachne) vs. Minerva (Athena)

[sander123]

Sorry -- that post above was me Annie from HPN -- I forgot to sign my name.

[rattlesnakeroot]

Melissa wrote another statement, so I added that as well, just to show her side of the story. She says some of the quotes are incorrect.

Also, she wanted them to remove the word "blessing" (as in JKR had given her blessing for Melissa's book). But that actually sounds like something JKR herself would say. Permission, blessing - both words mean that JKR approves, and that's not disputed.

[kamion]

I cannot say this article is a much an eyeopener as Wu's article: JKR and the Dark Mark. It sounds a bit gossipy.
I also think that Steve's words at that convention were ways out of context. I was not at Prophecy, but when Steve was performing in the same style and enthousiasm as how he entertained the crowd during Sectus while we were waiting for DH's release, I am surpiced anyone took it serious.
In what kind of society it was again that clowns and cabaret actors had to fear for their life?, Let me think, today is the 5th of May and Holland celebrates the end of WOII. Berlin was the town to go for when searching for cabaret in the 1920-s / early '30-ties. At the end of the '30-ties it was all gone. Well, with the right audience Steve can be a very entertaining clown.
I also remember from Sectus that particlairy the fanficcers were not very pleased with the Epilogue and "E.W.E." - Epilogue, What Epilogue was born there at a Saturdayafternoon, when we had recovered from lack of sleep. Apart from fanfiction implications it still is

[idrach]

Except that Melissa's book is about fandom, not about HP itself.

[kamion]

well, that is playing double safe, the approval slash blessing of JKR is a little bit unpredictable, when writing about Harry Potter.

sva like berlin?

[kamion]

Sorry kamion, your allusions don't prove your point but rather the opposite. If SVA is a "clown," he is also the one who brought this on himself by ignoring warnings of impending disaster [C&D's]. Of course I know HE is not being sued but its his reputation on the line as much as RDRs. And whats up with comparing him to Berlin?? It's true that the cabaret scene there in the 30's was unparalled, but it didn't disappear because Germany was being persecuted - on the contrary, Nazi Germany had been the aggressor, killed milions and brought the world into war. In that sense, SVA may be a little like Berlin in that he is at fault for a situation - but the whole illustration turns my stomach just as much as RDR books comparing C&D letters to Hiroshima and Nagasaki. *written by linden swallow*

[gaspodia]

Priceless! That cartoon made me giggle too and I'm going to have to ask Steve to pose for a photo reenactment:)