Frog’s Comments (group member since Jan 05, 2022)

Frog’s comments from the Debates group.

deleted user wrote: "Is Harry Potter Good? Bad? Why?

Be nice!!"

Harry Potter is the greatest children's fantasy series written in decades. It captured the globe for a reason. Those who undervalue it are not as literate as they pretend, certainly not in contemporary children's fantasy (or they just want to own J. K. Rowling or those who like it).

J. K. Rowling did double-digit drafts of certain chapters, triple plot twists, made people cry when characters died, and taught lessons about good and evil that actually meant something. She never used romance as a crutch. She had sympathetic and memorable characters, and people copy her world-building to this day.

The story lends itself to real world interaction in a unique way (wondering what Hogwarts House you'd be in, what patronus you'd have, etc). This is why it's spawned so many fanfictions; the structure is a great playset for infinite scenarios.

J. K. Rowling is a rare person bold enough to write about good vs. evil (rather than making "everything shades of grey") and really makes the hero slay the beast. You'd think this isn't rare, but in contemporary fantasy? Do you realize the amount of excuses children's authors always have to "tame" or "train" the dragon instead of actually killing it?? (Search my fantasy shelf with hundreds of titles, and see what I'm saying if you want evidence).

Harry Potter uses fundamental archetypes like slaying the snake, and weaves them into a mystery structure (rather than just a cheap linear quest), in a brilliant move that makes it abnormally dynamic. Foreshadowing, red herrings, clues, and plot twists, are just some devices that most other fantasy books just don't utilize.

Jordan Peterson is the only one I've ever heard who has it right: Harry Potter captured the globe for a reason, and it's a great mystery that people just don't pay enough attention to or try to replicate in the right ways.

Oh, how I want to punch people who take it for granted, let alone say it's of the devil.
As a kid, I did not take it for granted, and I'm so thankful at least one good fantasy book series for kids actually existed.

I have a five page document debunking that any details in Harry Potter are "from the devil" if anyone wants me to send it. Yes, I can show you the etymology of every last word. But suffice it to say: super powers are not witchcraft, and most people don't even know what they mean when they say witchcraft. But it's not whatever you're thinking of.

I think we should accept that technology is more advanced now, and websites like these should be our new and improved libraries, free to everyone. Not admitting this is actually a huge failing to education and a tragedy.

The value of having free literature infinitely outweighs the bad, but people don't value literature enough to realize this. Nobody even realizes the speed and efficiency at which literature can be consumed with the right technology and techniques (like speeding it up with a "text to voice" program or putting it in a video editor with music). Then listen to it multiple times, once you get the big picture and edit out whatever is pointless. Editing literature as you go is another whole overlooked aspect of literacy that people need to start waking up to and taking advantage of. It's a totally new level of studying it and understanding it. I wish I could teach a class about it. I always desperately wish people knew about this and took advantage of books in more ways than they realize are possible; there's just no excuse for our society not to be more literate with the technology we have. You can truly remix them like music and experiment in so many fascinating ways that don't have to be too time consuming, and learn so much.

I do think maybe more rules could be in place, such as new authors being able to request their books aren't allowed on these kind of sites for a certain amount of years. Or maybe they could get paid by the views somehow, like music on YouTube (we accept that most songs are free to listen to on the internet now, after all). But when it comes to books... people are so frustratingly slow to realize how easy it really could be to achieve higher literacy. We just don't value it enough yet.

But I strongly believe this will be the future.