Is Harry Potter Literature?
Jul. 26th, 2007 06:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
highlyeccentricMr Stuart Thompson informed me, disparagingly, that Harry Potter was not literature. People keep telling me that it's "not well written", and I just don't understand it- ok, you never find yourself wordless at the beauty of JK's prose, but I, for one, am reduced to a giggling mess by her turns of phrase, and isn't that just as good? *IN TWO WEEKS TIME I will complete this paragraph with an example from HP7, but for now, i dare not put so much as a word into the public domain*
Moreover, I just have this feeling that "literature" isn't the point. Something fun and inspiring and captivating is. It's not, as Stuart impugns, about "popularism". The difference between HP and Dan Brown isn't that HP has more readers. How many people, after reading Dan Brown, feel inspired? Feel that their lives are somehow improved? Feel in any way moved to make their world a better place?
Here, I will quote from "Old English in New York":
One final note: As I was getting ready to head to bed Saturday evening, my younger sister, GMH, who had been reading the book all day too, knocked on my door.
"I'm glad we've been expelled from Hogwarts, Kate."
I was confused, and asked her why.
"Because now we can stop worrying about Harry's world, and start fixing our own."
The only thing Dan Brown moves anyone to is hatred of the Church- and I don't think that is in fact the majority of his readers, or even his intention.
So, without further ado, I beg you to read "Old English In New York's" analysis of the social value of Harry Potter. I quote again: But it seems to me they're part of a tradition of narratives written that argue there is still hope. And maybe it's the childish part of me -- but when such distinctions are made, I hope the lessons of Harry Potter do remain: That choices matter more than talents. That every living thing deserves respect. That people can change, and are often more than what they seem. That sacrifices made for love -- real love, whatever that is -- are worth something. That that same love can "save" people, help them become more humane, help them recognize that we have so much to love each other for.
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Examples of Well-Turned Phrases
Date: 2007-07-26 01:50 pm (UTC)Richard Scott Nokes
Re: Examples of Well-Turned Phrases
Date: 2007-07-26 01:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-26 04:05 pm (UTC)*froth froth foam*
I had a similar argument over whether Tolkien wrote literature. I couldn't believe that anyone would think his work wasn't literature! It made me realise though, I don't actually have a clue what literature *is* - how it's defined, what features it has, and whether underpants are necessary or merely optional.
I read a quote by Stephen King the other day - he said something along the lines of "My writing is the literary equivalent of a Big Mac and fries". I thought that was wonderful.
Ok, now I'm going to read that analysis.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-27 12:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-07-26 04:17 pm (UTC)But I think the proper response is not to disparage JKR's writing in order to praise other's. I believe that JKR is a good storyteller and also incredibly lucky to have hit the market at just the right time to attract so much attention. I think there are other authors who with the same luck could have done as well.
HP isn't "literature" but then neither is a lot of fantasy, so I don't know what that argument is supposed to prove. I think there are just a lot of people irritated (me included) that there are people out there who've barely read any books but HP and are calling JKR an amazing writer and HP great literature.
I give you examples from snitchseeker.com - the comments in quotes came from posters there in response to an article in which Terry Pratchett says (more coherently than I) basically what I've just said above.
"by the way he says things, it seems as though he feels dry that JK is kicking his *** in the fantasy genre."
"I've never heard of him but it sounds like he's doubting JK's greatness as a writer."
" He came off sounding a bit condescending in the interview... he could have shown more respect to JKR."
Geh if anyone has any right to sound condescending it's him. She's written 6 books, he's written over 45. If he doesn't want to respect JKR, he damn well doesn't have to.
But yeah, I think a lot of the "JKR doesn't count" comments from people are mostly just reactions.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-27 12:49 am (UTC)I think he's right, she's not God, although I don't agree with his disparagement of her writing.
I think I read that TP article, not sure where or when. And the snitchseeker people seem, like Carl's cousins, to have a misguided view of Rowling as Untouchable. Which really isn't doing her, or anyone else, any favours.
As for "there are tons of other fantasy authors out there just as good or better", that line of argument gets me. Of course there are, but fantasy authors have always been disparaged and ignored, they knew it when they went into the business. And secondly, most fantasy authors are writing for adults. I can't think of anything which was around ten years ago which could go near filling Rowling's place. There's some great books, but none which are
- simple enough. Yep, Rowling isn't very dense. Yipee! It's a fun book with rollicking humour and what I personally think are great characters, that you don't have to be the nerd of the class to enjoy.
- in a long enough series to become a social phenomenom. Most kids sci/fi fantasy is in one book or trilogies
- appeals equally to boys and girls. Tamora Pierce rocks my socks (although I wouldn't say she's better than Rowling, just different), but few guys would get into it.
- fantasy, with the right touch of "normality". When HP was first out, before I discovered him, i read a lot of kids sci fi but not so much fantasy; both of them were sufficiently divorced from reality that few people were actually going to get into it. HP is a school story, a tried and tested kids book format, combined with adventure fantasy.
no subject
Date: 2007-07-28 05:02 am (UTC)I'm all for compiling well turned phrases, though I don't think Rowling's worth is in her phrases. Anyone can turn a phrase. Heck, I manage a couple every once in a while. It's the ideas that matter most...
no subject
Date: 2007-07-28 01:14 pm (UTC)anyway, yes, you're right that the ideas are more important that turning phrases. But I wish to address the people who keep disparaging her writing. Am going to attempt to make the point that simple writing isn't necessarily bad. *shugs* i don't know how well it will turn out.
Fancy nominating your favourite HP quote? I'm quizzing everyone i know, in the hope of getting a good range. And then attempting some kind of literary comment on them. :s Literary analysis isn't really my strong point. Which, of course, is why i study medieval literature...