Psychology, depression, etc

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I do feel uncomfortable when we start speculating about J.K. Rowling, the person. OTOH, I also think it's perfectly okay to look hard at the way she presents emotional, as well as moral, issues in her text. And nobody has taken a harder look, with funnier results, than starcrossedgirl! Look here:


http://starcrossedgirl.livejournal.com/322471.html#cutid1

Comments

[madderbrad.livejournal.com]

I think it's reasonable to examine the author in determining problems with her written text. I certainly don't believe there's any magical barrier (in reasoning, in literary analysis, in good taste) to stop one from from looking at the author in trying to understand what was written.

And in Rowling's case that door has been well and truly opened by the author herself; all those interviews where she's stated the parallels/links between HP and her own life.

I remember an interesting discussion once as to exactly why the literary failure known as Deathly Hallows got written. I'm still unsure as to when, if ever, Rowling realised how bad her last book is, how she stuffed things up, and whether she cares. Various signs of discomfort - certainly she acts defensively - in some of those post-DH interviews.

Anyway, great little story by starcrossedgirl! Thank you for the recommendation.

[oneandthetruth.livejournal.com]

IAWT, particularly when you're talking about an author who's gone out of her way to say, "This character is based on me," or "This character is based on somebody I knew." Then she's rolling out the red carpet, inviting people to speculate about how her personal quirks and life history affected her work. Rowling is rather like Taylor Swift in that regard, although Swift clearly has much higher standards for her work and a lot more respect for her fans.

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

That was brilliant!

[granatapfelrot.livejournal.com]

What is it with that squeamishness about Rowling?!
That woman isn't some sort of reclusive artist.
She's as much a product as her writing. Her image, sob story and psychological quirks did get used to sell books.
At some point it was obviously wanted and expected to speculate about her and her life. That's opening the door and inviting people in, to take a look around, to stay with the metaphor.

But yes, great story. I liked it very much.

[wolf-willow31.livejournal.com]

That woman isn't some sort of reclusive artist. She's as much a product as her writing.

I have to agree. Ordinarily I'd be squeamish about speculating about an author personally, too, but JKR has gone to great lengths to launch herself into the spotlight and keep herself there, giving all the interviews, interacting with megafans, playing guessing games with readers, starting up Pottermore, etc. The message that "It's all about her" comes across loud and clear. She's been marketing herself as much as her books, and if she wants the adoration, she has to put up with the criticism and speculation. I think she's made herself fair game.

[for-diddled.livejournal.com]

Good fic! :)

Another way in which the Dementors are bad analogues to depression is the effect they have on people. People affected by Dementors faint, vomit, turn pale, sweat, shiver, panic and run around. People affected by depression are more likely to curl up in a corner and cry. Possibly JKR didn't think this sort of behaviour dramatic enough, which is why the symptoms of Dementor promixity are more "interesting" than the symptoms of depression.

[sweettalkeress.livejournal.com]

"People affected by Dementors faint, vomit, turn pale, sweat, shiver, panic and run around. "

And now you've just reminded me of a badfic I read in which the characters spent 95% of their time doing just that. So... Dementors turn you into badfic characters (now there's an idea)?

[borg-princess.livejournal.com]

When JKR says things like how she was going to kill off Ron at one stage:

Midway through, which I think is a reflection of the fact that I wasn't in a very happy place, I started thinking I might polish one of them off. Out of sheer spite. 'There, now you definitely can't have him anymore.'

Yeah, I think examining JKR and her mental state and how it contributes to the series is fair enough.