Does Hermione's drying charm sound to anyone else like those automatic hand-dryers in some public lavatories that puff out air like a flatulent flea, taking three weeks to dry your hands and yet somehow super-heating any jewellery you might be wearing to volcanic levels?
I love the wording of this.
So do I. Not "the kind of creatures that might EAT OUR FACE" or "the kind of creatures that normal people run screaming from" but creatures that might get Hagrid the sack. As if they conspired amongst themselves that it should be so. Furthermore, the fact that Harry does not even consider that dangerous beasts might be dangerous is not normal. Normal people are scared of dangerous beasts because they're scary. Thought: Newt Scamander must have been a Gryffindor - any other house member would have written a book entitled "Dangerous Beasts and How To Avoid Them."
There’s something a bit creepily childish about himIf I had real money, I'd be willing to bet it that Rowling says that this is why Hagrid is so loveable. Why, he's just a big kid
( ... )
Me, I can’t find one single lesson previously in which Hagrid made any effort with a student outside the Trio, so all this ‘Look at Professor Hagrid, isn’t he nice, he loves you all!’ spin chafes a little, but whatever.
It is rather like the way Harry barely speaks with anyone other than the Weasleys, Hermione and Draco if he's feeling vengeful, and yet people say "he seemed so nice" or "he's really cool" or react to him as though he's their bestest friend when he's in trouble. Or the way Hermione never speaks to girls at all except in an emergency and tends to restrict herself to Ron and Harry when not alone, yet is an authority on everyone. It is, in short, more bad characterisation.
God knows why the rest of the class follows (strike! ;) If all of them stayed put, Hagrid couldn’t do much) but more puncturing of the ‘Trio are underdogs and unpopular in their classes’ myth. They lead, others follow.I suppose they follow because people probably just would, or something. Also, I think this series' idea of an "underdog" is "someone
( ... )
Re: Part two:merrymelodyFebruary 5 2005, 00:20:48 UTC
But Hagrid was always like that! Heh, I think that, and 'counter-blah blah' is going to be my new catchphrases.
thought: do we not tell bad fic writers off for making their characters abuse victims instead of making them likeable, or is that just me?
I actually think fic writers get far more stick than they deserve, considering a lot of the canon in this fandom. For instance, the recent fussing over sexism in fic, and blah blah why do people make Cho/Pansy/Parvati out as useless airhead sluts? as if it's not an extrapobale conclusion from the text. Likewise, lots of JKR's characters fail Sue tests, and yeah, this chapter in particular would fit in over at ff.net - look at all the blooooood, Harry's shaking/vomiting/sweating!11
You are the very model of unbiased restraint :D
Thank you ;)
Quite obvious plot device.
I guess it's just slightly better than 'Ah, Phoenixes. Did I mention they can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, blah blah.'
why didn't Umbridge just go by "this is a bad creature to show
( ... )
Re: Part two:jollityfarmFebruary 5 2005, 01:40:33 UTC
Heh, I think that, and 'counter-blah blah' is going to be my new catchphrases.
"No, officer, it was a counter-glassing!"
"I'm afraid I've been having a counter-affair."
Hours of pain and misery fun.
I actually think fic writers get far more stick than they deserve, considering a lot of the canon in this fandom.
It really only comes out when you look at it this closely, though. Looking at canon and realising that, for all that she's put forth as a "strong female character", McGonagall's main actions have been in indulging her favourites, and Hermione is often weepy and generally the Extrapolation Robot, rather than a character you'd take to your bosom.
Although Ginny has, of course, always been like that :(
My authorial insert knows your pain, oppressed people, even though I'm not black/Jewish/of an ethnicity other than native Brit (and my character never experiences one tenth of the prejudice anyone else would, even in today's society) but in fact am a skinny white blonde with a classics education.I remember the review of the
( ... )
There’s something a bit creepily childish about him
Wasn't that a big part of that essay on the books "outgrowing him?" Because yeah, in a kids book there's something nice about having an adult act like a kid. But Harry is now an almost-adult and adults find this kind of behavior creepy and embarassing.
Again, to be fair, this is a criticism offered previously by others - if you don’t agree with the way the rules operate, or rather don’t, in HP, you must adore authority and discipline (and not in a kinky sense ;) or else demand that fictional characters keep to strict guidelines and never have any fun or do anything wrong. Yes, that's what's so annoying. It's very much a straw man, so people can talk about special circumstances or ethical objections or rules only being important insofar as they help and protect. The problem is that first, rules can't help or protect unless they are valued just for themselves somewhat. If you don't have people basically respecting them how can you pretend to be talking about special circumstances
( ... )
But Harry is now an almost-adult and adults find this kind of behavior creepy and embarassing.
Totally. Hagrid is beginning to remind me of Michael Jackson, personally.
It's very much a straw man, so people can talk about special circumstances or ethical objections or rules only being important insofar as they help and protect.
And of course, the important rules are the ones that help and protect the 'good' characters. The ones that only help and protect people like Marietta or the Inquisitorial Squad are the ones that are justifiably worth breaking, because following your heart is best, even if your heart finds it funny to watch other people suffer.
when Malfoy challenges Hagrid in this chapter he's not acting out of malice but fear born of experienceThat's what so pathetic - that these kids are paying desperate attention to what Hagrid says, not because they're fascinated by him and the lesson, but because they literally have to, because he doesn't care if they're harmed
( ... )
he'd probably be horrified, just as Fred and George would if they were told they were bullies, or something.
I don't think Fred & George would be horrified if someone told them they were bullies, though. They'd just write it off as the accuser "not having a sense of humour" (because they don't laugh when F&G joke about raping them with a steely object).
But that's comedy gold! Yeah, I guess Fred and George wouldn't be horrified, because to be that would be to question themselves, and everyone knows you're not a bully if someone really deserves it, or if you're being really funny. Harry would maybe be horrified. I hope.
Part DeuxsistermagpieFebruary 4 2005, 19:57:50 UTC
Hermione’s reaction here, I think, is motivated by her personal resentment of Umbridge as much as her loyalty to Hagrid,
Hermione is very creepy in this scene, particularly given the view of giants we just got. It also maybe just reminds me of how "racism" can be such a blank check--like in fandom I've sometimes had experiences where it's like bad of anyone to deal with the DEs or Malfoys rationally because we're supposed to react to anything we're told is like racism with the same kind of foaming-at-the-mouth fury as Hermione. Interestingly, that often goes along with being equally infuriated by any suggestion that any portrayal of another race might echo racist stereotypes, or that the universal condescending attitude towards Muggles is also bigotted. (Note that Hagrid is apparently so unfamiliar with discrimination he doesn't recognize it when he sees it; Hermione must not only fight his battles for him but tell him he's being oppressed, like she does with the house elves.)
She doesn’t “sound sorry at all”. Yeah, this theme
( ... )
Re: Part DeuxsistermagpieFebruary 4 2005, 20:00:44 UTC
Oh, and I forgot to add how it is hysterically funny that Hagrid's brought creatures to class that might take a bite out of you if you annoy them, and then made them invisible so you might sit on one without even realizing.
Re: Part DeuxmerrymelodyFebruary 5 2005, 00:19:10 UTC
Yes, I love how saying 'Gosh, it'd be nice if we were tolerant to all kinds of characters/people' equates to being a racist. Clearly we should prejudiced too, just in PC ways in which we loathe people for much better reasons like being fat or stupid or wearing the wrong colour tie.
Of course the classic moment is still when Draco says exactly what he's supposed to about Harry's parents and Harry still gets angry that he doesn't sound personally effected by the tragedy.Totally. Likewise, even when Umbridge is sympathetic, it's not sincere enough
( ... )
Comments 22
I love the wording of this.
So do I. Not "the kind of creatures that might EAT OUR FACE" or "the kind of creatures that normal people run screaming from" but creatures that might get Hagrid the sack. As if they conspired amongst themselves that it should be so. Furthermore, the fact that Harry does not even consider that dangerous beasts might be dangerous is not normal. Normal people are scared of dangerous beasts because they're scary. Thought: Newt Scamander must have been a Gryffindor - any other house member would have written a book entitled "Dangerous Beasts and How To Avoid Them."
There’s something a bit creepily childish about himIf I had real money, I'd be willing to bet it that Rowling says that this is why Hagrid is so loveable. Why, he's just a big kid ( ... )
Reply
It is rather like the way Harry barely speaks with anyone other than the Weasleys, Hermione and Draco if he's feeling vengeful, and yet people say "he seemed so nice" or "he's really cool" or react to him as though he's their bestest friend when he's in trouble. Or the way Hermione never speaks to girls at all except in an emergency and tends to restrict herself to Ron and Harry when not alone, yet is an authority on everyone. It is, in short, more bad characterisation.
God knows why the rest of the class follows (strike! ;) If all of them stayed put, Hagrid couldn’t do much) but more puncturing of the ‘Trio are underdogs and unpopular in their classes’ myth. They lead, others follow.I suppose they follow because people probably just would, or something. Also, I think this series' idea of an "underdog" is "someone ( ... )
Reply
Heh, I think that, and 'counter-blah blah' is going to be my new catchphrases.
thought: do we not tell bad fic writers off for making their characters abuse victims instead of making them likeable, or is that just me?
I actually think fic writers get far more stick than they deserve, considering a lot of the canon in this fandom.
For instance, the recent fussing over sexism in fic, and blah blah why do people make Cho/Pansy/Parvati out as useless airhead sluts? as if it's not an extrapobale conclusion from the text.
Likewise, lots of JKR's characters fail Sue tests, and yeah, this chapter in particular would fit in over at ff.net - look at all the blooooood, Harry's shaking/vomiting/sweating!11
You are the very model of unbiased restraint :D
Thank you ;)
Quite obvious plot device.
I guess it's just slightly better than 'Ah, Phoenixes. Did I mention they can carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers, blah blah.'
why didn't Umbridge just go by "this is a bad creature to show ( ... )
Reply
"No, officer, it was a counter-glassing!"
"I'm afraid I've been having a counter-affair."
Hours of pain and misery fun.
I actually think fic writers get far more stick than they deserve, considering a lot of the canon in this fandom.
It really only comes out when you look at it this closely, though. Looking at canon and realising that, for all that she's put forth as a "strong female character", McGonagall's main actions have been in indulging her favourites, and Hermione is often weepy and generally the Extrapolation Robot, rather than a character you'd take to your bosom.
Although Ginny has, of course, always been like that :(
My authorial insert knows your pain, oppressed people, even though I'm not black/Jewish/of an ethnicity other than native Brit (and my character never experiences one tenth of the prejudice anyone else would, even in today's society) but in fact am a skinny white blonde with a classics education.I remember the review of the ( ... )
Reply
Wasn't that a big part of that essay on the books "outgrowing him?" Because yeah, in a kids book there's something nice about having an adult act like a kid. But Harry is now an almost-adult and adults find this kind of behavior creepy and embarassing.
Again, to be fair, this is a criticism offered previously by others - if you don’t agree with the way the rules operate, or rather don’t, in HP, you must adore authority and discipline (and not in a kinky sense ;) or else demand that fictional characters keep to strict guidelines and never have any fun or do anything wrong. Yes, that's what's so annoying. It's very much a straw man, so people can talk about special circumstances or ethical objections or rules only being important insofar as they help and protect. The problem is that first, rules can't help or protect unless they are valued just for themselves somewhat. If you don't have people basically respecting them how can you pretend to be talking about special circumstances ( ... )
Reply
Totally. Hagrid is beginning to remind me of Michael Jackson, personally.
It's very much a straw man, so people can talk about special circumstances or ethical objections or rules only being important insofar as they help and protect.
And of course, the important rules are the ones that help and protect the 'good' characters.
The ones that only help and protect people like Marietta or the Inquisitorial Squad are the ones that are justifiably worth breaking, because following your heart is best, even if your heart finds it funny to watch other people suffer.
when Malfoy challenges Hagrid in this chapter he's not acting out of malice but fear born of experienceThat's what so pathetic - that these kids are paying desperate attention to what Hagrid says, not because they're fascinated by him and the lesson, but because they literally have to, because he doesn't care if they're harmed ( ... )
Reply
I don't think Fred & George would be horrified if someone told them they were bullies, though. They'd just write it off as the accuser "not having a sense of humour" (because they don't laugh when F&G joke about raping them with a steely object).
Reply
Yeah, I guess Fred and George wouldn't be horrified, because to be that would be to question themselves, and everyone knows you're not a bully if someone really deserves it, or if you're being really funny.
Harry would maybe be horrified. I hope.
Reply
Hermione is very creepy in this scene, particularly given the view of giants we just got. It also maybe just reminds me of how "racism" can be such a blank check--like in fandom I've sometimes had experiences where it's like bad of anyone to deal with the DEs or Malfoys rationally because we're supposed to react to anything we're told is like racism with the same kind of foaming-at-the-mouth fury as Hermione. Interestingly, that often goes along with being equally infuriated by any suggestion that any portrayal of another race might echo racist stereotypes, or that the universal condescending attitude towards Muggles is also bigotted. (Note that Hagrid is apparently so unfamiliar with discrimination he doesn't recognize it when he sees it; Hermione must not only fight his battles for him but tell him he's being oppressed, like she does with the house elves.)
She doesn’t “sound sorry at all”. Yeah, this theme ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Of course the classic moment is still when Draco says exactly what he's supposed to about Harry's parents and Harry still gets angry that he doesn't sound personally effected by the tragedy.Totally. Likewise, even when Umbridge is sympathetic, it's not sincere enough ( ... )
Reply
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