They're at it again

[swatkat]

JKR chats . The fandom explodes – with discussions, theories, and sadly, wank. *sigh*

I'm one of those people who thinks JKR's comments are being simply misinterpreted and the entire matter is being blown out of proportion.



The question was: Do you have any future plans in particular for Draco Malfoy?

JKR replies: I've got plans for all my characters. Actually, this is a really good place to answer a question about Draco and Hermione, which a certain Ms. Radcliffe is desperate to have answered. Will they end up together in book six/seven? NO! The trouble is, of course, that girls fancy Tom Felton, but Draco is NOT Tom Felton!

Yes, so what's the big freaking deal? She just sunk a ship. So what? Did the shippers really believe that Draco/Hermione is going to happen in canon? And just because it's not going to happen in canon doesn't mean you'll have to stop writing about Draco/Hermione – people write about impossible pairings all the time in this fandom (Snape/Lupin is goood. *g* Although I'll say it still has possibilities in canon). I don't see how she was being bitchy in this response. It seems that JKR doesn't have the right to dictate what will happen in a universe that she created. We may not like it, we may not agree with her and bitch about the poor decision she's made (LFN TPTB, anyone? *g*) – but to say "OMG SHE HAS NO RIGHT TO DISAGREE WITH MY INTERPRETATIONS" is just… meh.

Maybe it's just me, but I never got the impression that she was declaring that all fans who like Draco Malfoy like him because of Tom Felton. She was talking about this particular fangirl, no doubt very young, and the other young fangirls whom she was chatting with. What's with all the adults taking this so personally?

As for Draco Malfoy – well, canon!Draco is a mean, nasty bully – the kind of kid people usually dislike in RL. While fans are perfectly entitled to like him and discover different facets to his personality, to portray him as a sympathetic character, it doesn't mean that JKR has to like him as well. There are so many whines complaints about the lack of development of Draco's character – maybe it's because he isn't such an important character after all? Maybe it's because that's exactly what his function in canon is, to be the spoilt rich boy in school who hates the hero's guts? You're still free to do whatever you want with him in fan fiction – that's what fan fiction is for.

I can understand when someone complains that JKR is loosing her touch (I don't agree cause I like OotP and the new direction that canon has taken); I can understand when someone bitches about her use of archetypes and the one-dimensional characters and then uses their fan fiction to explore new possibilities and straighten the kinks in canon. But I'm just sick and tired of all the personal attacks, because all said and done, she's still the author of these damn good books.



And oh, everyone is complaining about the Bill/Charlie age comment in that chat. What would the HP fans do if they had to deal with the LFN timeline? *g*

Comments

[nell65.livejournal.com]

What would the HP fans do if they had to deal with the LFN timeline? *g*

Why, naturally, they'd write a better one. And finally figure out for us poor conventional and boring het types where all the slashy subtext has been hiding.

Not that I'm feeling snarky this afternoon...

I'm only a mild fan of the potterverse, haven't managed to read the fifth book yet, so I have no strong opinions about JKR, though I'm certain she has plot holes and cardboard characters...who doesn't in a story that long?

My biggest beef with the potterverse is how, even after reading four books, I don't really understand how the wizzard world overlaps with/coincides with the muggle realm...or what the history of the overlap is, and why muggles aren't more concerned about wizzards (what, for example, would have happend to the Weasly's flying car if Uncle Vernon a) kept a shotgun under the bed, and b) knew how to use it? Not all muggles are as helpless as he...)

The comparison is what a complete and rich universe Tolkien managed to create with just four books.

Of course, much though I love Middle-earth, the professor's version and Peter Jackson's, I don't think that's the most powerful fantasy writing on the planet either, and most of his characters are cardboard cut-outs too. Angsty future king with past of self-sacrfice, check, bewildered hero who gets less bewildered as the story progresses, check, loyal sidekicks, check, light comedy team, check, jealous yet still noble warrior, check, wise old guide, check...oh wait - there's the whole fellowship. Did I miss any important details? Um, no, not really.

And did you ever figure out what it was, exactly, Saruon planned to *do* with Middle-earth once he got it? Me either.

Nell

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

I'm only a mild fan of the potterverse, haven't managed to read the fifth book yet, so I have no strong opinions about JKR, though I'm certain she has plot holes and cardboard characters...who doesn't in a story that long?

I think the main problem with these people complaining about Draco Malfoy is that they've put too much on a character who JKR obviously doesn't consider important enough to evolve further. Yes, he did have the potential to become Harry's evil counterpart or whatever - but JKR hasn't chosen to take that direction with him. Maybe because he isn't so integral to the storyline after all?

Now, in defence of Potterverse (hee hee *wink*), JKR usually provides enough information about how wizards manage to keep their world a secret from the muggles. The Ministry of Magic officials are constantly patrolling and taking precautions - memory charms, anti-muggle charms, clever camoflauge (if you go anywhere near Hogwarts, all you'll see is a ruined castle with numerous signs of 'Do Not Enter, dangerous'; if you go anywhere near the Quidditch stadium, you'll instantly remember something extremely urgent that you just have to do and so you'll go back home). Slip-ups do happen, and then they have to work a lot to cover their tracks. The responsible wizards are always worrying about muggles finding things out.

what, for example, would have happend to the Weasly's flying car if Uncle Vernon a) kept a shotgun under the bed, and b) knew how to use it? Not all muggles are as helpless as he...

Which is the reason Harry and Ron were *almost* expelled from school and very severely rebuked. The wizards are always walking a very thin line trying to keep things a secret - one of the many things that make the wizarding world so interesting for me. *g*

The comparison is what a complete and rich universe Tolkien managed to create with just four books.

That's so true. And yet, in a way the incompleteness of the Potterverse makes it so interesting for me - there is just so much to explore in fanfic. So *many* possible interpretations. Sorta like Section. Well, not that much. ;)

Of course, much though I love Middle-earth, the professor's version and Peter Jackson's, I don't think that's the most powerful fantasy writing on the planet either, and most of his characters are cardboard cut-outs too.

Yes, IMO the movies helped to develop the characters in a way that wouldn't have been possible before. Except Faramir and Eowyn. I fell in love with them waaaay before the movies. *g*

And did you ever figure out what it was, exactly, Saruon planned to *do* with Middle-earth once he got it?

Bwa ha ha ha ha!!!

Swatkat

[delle.livejournal.com]

I am constantly amazed at the amount of wank produced by the HP fandom.

So JKR doesn't like Draco? Big deal! (As you well know), in LFN we had to deal with the straitlaced, upright, ex-military Operations becoming the Sex Police and Madeline changing from a egnimatic but motherly type figure to a near caracature of a dominatrix. Haven't seen that stop the TRs from writing...

The creators of our playgrounds have their own opinions and their own agendas for their creations. This is a surprise to anyone?

I have never found the comment "oh, I wish you had been one of the writers! Your writing is so much better!" to be a compliment. I didn't do the hard work of creating the characters or the environment, I'm just playing with the results of someone's hard work.

I have to admit, as an outsider, that I'm completely unimpressed with Cassie Claire. I haven't read a word of her stories, mind; it's her fangirls screaming that Cassie writes the True Harry Potter canon that drives me bonkers.

[swatkat24.livejournal.com]

The creators of our playgrounds have their own opinions and their own agendas for their creations. This is a surprise to anyone?

Apparently. JKR isn't allowed to expand the characters she thinks is important and follow the plotline that she has in her mind. All the venomous attacks about JKR's 'moral universe' and how despicable it is, and how the 'victimization' of the Slytherins actually shows her own twisted morals drive me nuts.

At least she has been consistant with Draco - a brat at 11, and a brat at 15 - unlike our own TPTB. *g*

I have to admit, as an outsider, that I'm completely unimpressed with Cassie Claire. I haven't read a word of her stories, mind; it's her fangirls screaming that Cassie writes the True Harry Potter canon that drives me bonkers.

I tried reading her first story. It's well-written, funny at parts, but I didn't like her Spike!Draco and so I stopped reading. But the way the fangirls act make you think they're the best thing ever written. A lot of the squeeing is just to get noticed - as if that'd earn them a name in a fandom as huge as HP.

Swatkat