tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14913496.post90663593027401410..comments2023-12-31T13:11:40.044-05:00Comments on Newscat: NewsCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05049304894327723728noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14913496.post-53606345614635111502007-07-30T14:39:00.000-05:002007-07-30T14:39:00.000-05:00Over at Tapped there's been a lively discussion ab...Over at <A HREF="http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=harry_potter_and_the_complicated_identity_politics" REL="nofollow">Tapped</A> there's been a lively discussion about Rowling and feminism, re: whether she reinforces or breaks traditional feminine roles.<BR/><BR/>I've tried to stay out of it mostly because as much as I love discussing the political messages of fiction (and TV) Harry Potter is something I don't want to abuse by lashing it with evidence that it doesn't conform to feminist theory. And yeah, its hypocritical of me because I attack every other conformist TV writer for it. I call it the "J.K. Rowling exemption" from critical theory.<BR/><BR/>BTW, <B>The Keeper Of The Cats</B> would make an excellent blog title...;-)NewsCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05049304894327723728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14913496.post-21890137986488192692007-07-30T13:47:00.000-05:002007-07-30T13:47:00.000-05:00You know it's funny because I have a more troubled...You know it's funny because I have a more troubled relationship with my theory. On the one hand, I loved the vision of Harry as a teacher; "Dumbledore's man through and through." And this love grew after I saw the movie. The fifth book is so bogged down in exposition and Harry's teenage angst that the DA was one of the few gems; a time when Harry is not acting the misunderstood teen but taking control of his (and his friends') future.<BR/><BR/>This being said, I had wondered if Harry could have a life outside teaching if that was his chosen path. The teachers we see and learn about to any degree (Dumbledore, McGonagall, Flitwick, Trelawney, Snape, Hagrid) seem to have little to do other than teach. They're devoted to it. Their lives away from Hogwarts seem to be without family. The times I find this most glaring are at Christmas when so few seem to go anywhere. I feared if Harry became a teacher, he would not have the family life he so deserves.<BR/><BR/>Of course as you pointed out to me, just because Rowling didn't have time to show us these lives, doesn’t mean they don't exist. Certainly some of the teachers might devote themselves to Hogwarts, living there during the school year (or the whole year as Trelawney seems to?), but there are many teachers we are never fully introduced to. We catch a (depressing) glimpse of the Muggle Studies professor in the last book. And Hermione takes several classes Harry (and therefore readers) never attend. Other teachers are named, but there is no real clue as to how many professors may stay as Hogwarts as 'den parents.' Certainly not every one of them has to stay there all the time.<BR/><BR/>I guess in the end I still would have liked Harry to have taught. But if Kingsley Shacklebolt is taking over the Ministry, perhaps things are changing. Maybe Harry, Ron and Hermione should be leaders in this new age. I would like to know what Ginny does. My feminist tendencies would rather not see this strong girl turn out to simply be Harry Potter's wife. She’s too talented and spunky.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com