http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2008/12/08/for_art_s_sake Comments On: For Art's Sake by Dan Savage en-us Copyright 2009 The Stranger. All rights reserved. This RSS file is offered to individuals, The Stranger readers, and non-commercial organizations only. Any commercial websites wishing to use this RSS file, please contact The Stranger. webmaster@thestranger.com (The Stranger Webmaster) Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:00:01 -0800 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 02:30:00 -0800 Foundation http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss
Wow. You either read different books than I did, or had decided what your conclusions were going to be before you started.

Either way, good job.
Posted by Lee Gibson]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2008 17:38:19 -0800 The Stranger
Calling characters like Mrs. Weasley, Professor McGonagall, and Hermione "crones, hags, fuddy-duddies, and socially stunted girls" I find more evidence of YOUR misogyny than J. K. Rowling's. Those are some kick-ass characters. And I'd like you to point out a single instance, in any of the books, where Harry ever treats Mrs. Weasley or McGonagall like a tool.

I agree that the earlier books are weaker than the later ones. They're written for younger children, contain more parodied character types, and more smiley-face happy endings.
Posted by lymerae]]> Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:27:07 -0800 The Stranger
Quiddich never really made sense, since whichever "seeker" catches the "snitch" always wins due to the 150-point windfall (yes, I know the rules of Quiddich haha) - which makes the whole rest of the game mean nothing.

I do like the series regardless though.
Posted by Captain Jack]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:22:29 -0800 The Stranger
As for Deus-ex-machina - you expect it in a book about magic, but an author shouldn't need to pull Phoenix Tears and a Sword from a Hat for Harry to win. I'm sure you can brainstorm more examples.

Harry might as well play quiddich the whole book and press an "I Win" button in every final chapter. It makes all the rising tension seem utterly silly.

Roald Dahl and Daniel Pinkwater were never so lazy.
Posted by opticsdoug]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:01:03 -0800 The Stranger
?

Yeah, because only the most powerful and respected character in the series (Dumbledore) is an intellectual, and only a couple of the strongest and most willful characters (Hermione, Professor McGonagall, Ginny, Mrs. Weasley, Bellatrix) happen to be female. No, come on. That's weak.

Deus-ex machina, on the other hand... yeah. It's children's fantasy. What do you expect?
Posted by lymerae]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 15:04:44 -0800 The Stranger Posted by tres_arboles]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:46:40 -0800 The Stranger
Emma Wilson, like Alyson Hannigan and to a lesser degree Kari Byron, played intelligent, bookish, and dominant if slightly socially stunted female roles. Their characters are the girls us nerds wanted to hang out with before our hormones kicked in. After hormones kicked in, well... The Geek/Nerd/Net population has a lust for them that's unrivaled by other folks who've came of age in the last decade.

Mary Kate and Ashley, Brittney Spears, Lindsay Lohan (despite Mean Girls)... yeah. Not the same.

This doesn't make all the erotica and imagery on DeviantArt and LiveJournal any less pervy and creepy, but now you know.

And knowing is half the battle.

ps... the misogyny and anti-intellectual spirit in the Potter books makes me sad. That and the lazy deus-ex-machina plots.
Posted by opticsdoug]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:12:15 -0800 The Stranger Posted by commentz]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:03:34 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Danielle]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:19:49 -0800 The Stranger Posted by chef]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:47:17 -0800 The Stranger in your mind you're looking at them as a child. That's the only reason you're interested in them over the thousands upon thousands of other mildly talented naked actors you could look at. Perverts.
Posted by elenchos]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:40:59 -0800 The Stranger Posted by vitupera]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:39:44 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Greg]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:57:52 -0800 The Stranger
Don't get me wrong, they'll be quite nice, but they're not going to be much different than other 18 year old boobies. Make a post when she starts a contest to have a fan spend the night over at her place, that would be newsworthy.
Posted by watchout5]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:38:29 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Mike]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:25:16 -0800 The Stranger
That said, it is kind of strange to think of someone you remember as a small child on the screen in the first Harry Potter movie starring in a more risque role.
Posted by Will in Seattle]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:14:05 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Dylan!]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:59:37 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Greg]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:53:05 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Fnarf]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:48:42 -0800 The Stranger Posted by N]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:46:10 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Al]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:42:26 -0800 The Stranger Posted by dawginExile]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:38:42 -0800 The Stranger Posted by Robin Sparkles]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:38:36 -0800 The Stranger on. Cuz he's SOOOOOOO amAAAZINNNNG. Comes out with something marginal albeit worth talking about every half decade embedded in a pool of shit.
Posted by dEEEEEEEEEEEEEp]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:35:26 -0800 The Stranger
YOU'RE SICK, DAN!!! SICK SICK SICK...

now, when is this happening?
Posted by STJA]]> Mon, 08 Dec 2008 10:22:42 -0800 The Stranger