tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post7135899302316910261..comments2024-01-17T02:39:06.048-05:00Comments on rude truth: Harry Potter and the posthumanJJThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14920416765778868736noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-49314501876390764252012-06-04T08:40:06.056-05:002012-06-04T08:40:06.056-05:00Agreed. Which is one reason I find it so healthy t...Agreed. Which is one reason I find it so healthy to counter the theological assumption of human ontological uniqueness with the reminder that humans are animals... We are kin with animals and machines, and the kind of posthuman discourse that recognizes both kinships is the kind I find helpful, as opposed to the Voldemorty search for invulnerability, a kind of flight from the animal.JJThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920416765778868736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-43544698422986253592012-06-04T08:36:46.108-05:002012-06-04T08:36:46.108-05:00Agreed! Yes, since this post I have become much mo...Agreed! Yes, since this post I have become much more careful to not carelessly equate posthuman with anti-human, as there are lots of possible posthuman constructions that are much more hopeful. And you're right! Harry is totally the positive posthuman figure here. Thanks for pointing that out!JJThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920416765778868736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-60721123184195274672012-06-03T16:58:02.056-05:002012-06-03T16:58:02.056-05:00You point out something very interesting: that it&...You point out something very interesting: that it's wizard's superiority over other beings that serves as a model for pure-blood superiority over mixed-blood and Muggles. And you connection with Hitler makes it even more interesting. It was the assumption of human superiority over animals that modelled anti-semitism.<br /><br />Of course, it's almost impossible to make a connection between animal abuse and the Holocaust without making meat-eaters and Jews fall off their chairs. I am part of at least one of those groups and I think this is the sad, hard truth: as long as there is animal abuse, abuse of humans will be thinkable and very possible.<br /><br />The Harry Potter books show that beautifully, especially in the Trio's discussion with Griphook in DH.Rodolfo Piskorskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15950557173506799398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-59428224483460411752012-06-03T16:50:45.604-05:002012-06-03T16:50:45.604-05:00Immortality does not mean "posthuman", b...Immortality does not mean "posthuman", because "posthuman" does not necessarily mean "non-human". In my analysis, Harry himself is the posthuman, because he accepts death. Humanity is not only mortal, but perched on the assumption that death is absolutely external. By embracing it, and embracing vulnerability, Harry transfigures humanity.<br /><br />One cannot forget that desire for immortality is, like the Warlock with the hairy heart can tell us, simply a desire for invulnerability, for the redemption from weakness - and this is profoundly humanist (as in anti-animal, because they are seen as weaker and more vulnerable).<br /><br />I have write an entire thesis about it: http://www.scribd.com/doc/19220910/The-Cat-Who-Reads-the-Map-Posthumanism-and-Animality-in-Harry-PotterRodolfo Piskorskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15950557173506799398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-19367943915803160852007-07-24T21:13:00.000-05:002007-07-24T21:13:00.000-05:00best HP discussion ever, here<A HREF="http://www.hermitsrock.com/article/hp7#comment" REL="nofollow">best HP discussion ever, here</A>JTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977180734561873789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-27100830011593543052007-07-20T09:21:00.000-05:002007-07-20T09:21:00.000-05:00I agree. I think Snape will be redeemed, and that...I agree. I think Snape will be redeemed, and that it will be tragic. Redeemed may be the wrong word for me to use, because I think Snape has remained on the right side the entire time, so perhaps just a redemption of his reputation, with his name finally being cleared in a tragic manner. Snape seems to be a very dear character to Rowling, and after re-reading the last section of book 6 multiple times, I think he may end up sacrificing himself to save Harry, Malfoy, and others. There is a lot going on there. I'm excited and also dreading reading this book. Excited for obvious reasons, and dread because I know it's the last one, which is sad.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522356911872707211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-65163252969573684252007-07-20T08:55:00.000-05:002007-07-20T08:55:00.000-05:00AH!After reading Book 6 a million times, I really ...AH!<BR/><BR/>After reading Book 6 a million times, I really do think Rowling is leaving a lot of room for redemption in that scene. My instinct is that since she is willing to see beyond the black-and-white categories (even in Voldemort's case to some extent, I mean, look at all the background we get on him in 6), redemption of Snape is very likely. Perhaps he will be redeemed after the fact--this would fit Rowling's blend of optimism and tragedy.JTBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05977180734561873789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12478084.post-47066642601510484882007-07-20T08:51:00.000-05:002007-07-20T08:51:00.000-05:00Great thoughts. I am planning on having a persona...Great thoughts. I am planning on having a personal Harry Potter read-a-thon this weekend and am glad I read this first. Because I inevitably read the HP books too quickly and have only re-read a few of them, I forget a lot of details that are significant to Rowling's underyling themes. I hope you'll post again after you finish Book 7. And I have to ask, do you think Snape is good or bad?Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12522356911872707211noreply@blogger.com