Comments on: On Critical Reception of Harry Potter and Twilight: “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again” Part 2: Culture War

By: Breaking Dawn Part 1 Blog Re-Cap Countdown

Breaking Dawn Part 1 Blog Re-Cap Countdown — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:14:14 +0000

[...] down and I rummage around to find something suitable to wear to that big swanky wedding. Part 1 Part 2 Part [...]

By: Forks High School Professor · Critical Responses to Rowling and Meyer

Forks High School Professor · Critical Responses to Rowling and Meyer — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 19:44:04 +0000

[...] For Part 1 on genre criticism, click here. for Part 2 on culture war critiques left and right, click here, for part 3 on artifact criticism, click here, for part 4 on the ‘derivative [...]

By: IstariErangua

IstariErangua — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:56:17 +0000

Sorry to jump into this discussion, but I’m new to this site and curious as to what people had to say on this subject. I love Harry Potter and have read and enjoyed them since the beginning, but I have no interest in Twilight, not because of any culture war or anything like that, just because the subject matter doesn’t appeal much to me, I got bored with vampires after Anne Rice. I’ve heard a lot of different opinions on Twilight, from a range of people from girls still in school to adults with literary backgrounds, and it’s interesting to me where everyone lies with regard to the proverbial fence. Many of my friends who liked Twilight liked it for things like an engaging story, even if they admitted it was not necessarily well-written, and said they could see the author’s writing improving as the sequels came out, but were disappointed with the ending. Others read the first one, were disgusted with the writing style (which I’ve learned for myself is a huge factor in how much I enjoy a book; Austen and Dostoyevsky drive me crazy but I love Tolkien) and didn’t finish it or didn’t bother with the rest. Mostly I wanted to comment on my wish that anyone who wants to comment critically on any book should at least read it first and read it unbiasedly, so that they can experience it fully and give a reall judgment, not one colored by preconceived notions. I’ve been guilty of this myself in the past, but I’ve learned to be a more open reader, and I enjoy my reading much more because of this. Maybe I’m too much of an idealist, but those are my thoughts. I just wish people could be more open-minded in general, even if they decide they dislike something for their own reasons having to do with taste.

By: Topics about Christian life and Bible readings » Archive » On Critical Reception of Harry Potter and Twilight: “It’s Deja Vu All Over Again” Part 2: Culture War

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 12:09:35 +0000

[...] John placed an interesting blog post on On Critical Reception of Harry Potter and Twilight: â [...]

By: Arabella Figg

Arabella Figg — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 20:37:55 +0000

Excellent post, John!

LibraryLily, you write: “Likewise, owing to the culture war, I have people in my life for whom nothing I say will convince them of the value of Harry Potter. Nothing. These are respectable, intelligent people, all of whom I think ought to believe me, especially since they haven’t read the books themselves.”

Amen. Same thing’s happened to me. It’s discrediting of both your faith and intellect. It’s saying “I know you’re a smart, insightful Christian I value and respect…but boy, are you dumb and decieved, which makes me question your spiritual credentials. And, even though I’ve not read them, I know more about the books than you.” Talk about mental knickers in a twist! How do they walk a straight line down the street?

By: revgeorge

revgeorge — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 18:16:48 +0000

Again, the only caution I would give is that not everyone who objects to Twilight or who dislikes it is a Culture Warrior. Although you certainly point out quite well & very thoroughly how people who should otherwise know better can fall into this trap. And also the fact that those who have valid objections can also go too far & dismiss the work without considering any of its positive qualities or missing its deeper meanings.

By: LibraryLily

LibraryLily — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 04:23:00 +0000

Believe it or not, I actually had someone say to me that vampires are of the devil.

Your defense of Twilight against an overinterpretation of injunctions against lust made a lot of sense. As a Catholic who trusts the catechism, I have to admit to not liking the first half of the first book on the first read; the matter of “where to draw the line” in fiction has been an ongoing question for me. I’ve heard romance novels described as “porn for women”, and though I haven’t read enough of that genre to judge for myself, I’m certainly wary of the use of such a term against Twilight.

Oddly enough, in a moral sense I as a conservative Catholic probably have more in common with the LDS Meyer than the Christian Rowling … for whatever that’s worth!

Likewise, owing to the culture war, I have people in my life for whom nothing I say will convince them of the value of Harry Potter. Nothing. These are respectable, intelligent people, all of whom I think ought to believe me, especially since they haven’t read the books themselves. Twilight will get the same treatment, if not more of it. I still think all of the books are worth a serious read and have real value to offer.

By: More Twilight Talk at HogPro — The Hog's Head

More Twilight Talk at HogPro — The Hog's Head — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 03:38:33 +0000

[...] discussion here, I figured some of our readers would be interested to know that John Granger is blogging away on the series, drawing specific parallels between the initial critical response to Harry [...]