Nippon

Tokyo-Osaka-Kyoto: Ginza, Fuji, Ghibli, Izu, Osada, Kobe beef, sushi, sake.







Will be back with photos.

Snape and Miscellany

First the Miscellany: Angelina has been cast as Grendel's mother in an upcoming Beowulf film. At first I found this highly appropriate and funny. However, I later read a short description of her role on Rotten Tomatoes: "Jolie will play the queen of darkness, who tempts the Viking as he makes his way in the quest to become king." Ummmm, yeah: "She grasped out for him with grisly claws,/ and the warrior seized;/ . . .Then bore this brine-wolf, when bottom she touched,/ the lord of rings to the lair she haunted/ whiles vainly he strove, though his valor held, weapon to wield against wondrous monsters/ that sore beset him." Sounds verrry seductive. And Beowulf never had ambitions to be king nor was he a Viking, but whatever.

On to Snape. I will do the magic spoiler thing now, so highlight the text to read it. So, with Snape I'm of two minds. One is that JKR is telling the story straight and she has made it obvious that Snape is evil, once and for all. There will be no more twists and turns, just more of the same. This is JKR re: Snape in an interview:

MA: OK, big big big book six question. Is Snape evil?
JKR: [Almost laughing] Well, you've read the book, what do you think?
ES: She's trying to make you say it categorically.
MA: Well, there are conspiracy theorists, and there are people who will claim -
JKR: Cling to some desperate hope [laughter] -
. . .
JKR: Well, okay, I'm obviously – Harry-Snape is now as personal, if not more so, than Harry-Voldemort. I can't answer that question because it's a spoiler, isn't it, whatever I say, and obviously, it has such a huge impact on what will happen when they meet again that I can't. And let's face it, it's going to launch 10,000 theories and I'm going to get a big kick out of reading them so [laughs] I'm evil but I just like the theories, I love the theories.

So...it seems that hope for Snape is "desperate" but, of course, we don't know anything, really. Some unfilled holes I find in the Snape story:

1) Where is the "iron clad" proof Dumbledore claimed he had proving Snape's loyalty? He tells Harry that Snape had "remorse" - but the entire Order was in disbelief that this was the proof. I'm not ready to buy that we know the whole story. This is where my Lily theory comes in: Snape has been mysteriously and absolutely silent about Lily with Harry - quite unusual. I believe they had a relationship of some sort, and it helps to know they were both whizzes at potions (like minds perhaps?). I could hardly see Snape having "remorse" for James, but for Lily, perhaps. There is a telling (I think) moment in the aftermath of Snape killing Dumbledore where Harry says something like, "And we know what [Snape] thought of my mum - he called her a Mudblood." And the narrator tacks on: "But Harry didn't explain how he knew this..." This, of course, prompts the reader to remember that Harry never heard this from Snape's mouth EXCEPT in a memory from some 20 years ago. Could JKR be hinting that things had changed since that memory? Could Dumbledore's proof be related to Snape's relationship with Lily? Additionally, we know Snape is the Half-Blood Prince, so calling Lily a "Mudblood" may just have been an off-the-cuff way to insult her for show... There is also the intriguing nuggets from the interview - a) Lily had a choice to live or die, and she chose to die and b) when asked whether there was anyone else at Godric's Hollow that fateful night, JKR answered, "No comment." Hmmmm. Could Snape have been there? Did Lily have a choice because of Snape? Did Snape leave Voldemort because he killed Lily anyway? Speculations abound.

2) What exactly did he agree to in taking the Unbreakable Vow? Because JKR had to keep the reader in suspense regarding Malfoy's task, we never hear explicitly what Snape vowed to do when he and Narcissa. Could it have been something other than killing Dumbledore? I guess not because that was clearly Malfoy's task. BUT: Did Snape even know what he was vowing or was he ad-libbing on the spot? I guess it would be foolhardy to take the Unbreakable Vow for something you didn't know about... but this is a possibility since we never hear Snape state (or have stated to him) explictly what he must do.

3) In terms of my prior theory about Snape training up our hero by abusive methods and spoiling Malfoy, I think that's held true: Malfoy didn't have the mental/emotional strength to kill Dumbledore. Harry, on the other hand, was able to be obedient to Dumbledore and be courageous, even in the midst of the Inferi in the cave, with Dumbledore flippin' his wig.

4) Snape does refuse to hurt Harry (or let others hurt him) and stops Harry from using the Unforgivable Curses. He even "advises" Harry before he Apparates - he tells Harry that as long as one cannot perform Occlumency or non-verbal spells, one is weak. So, there's that. Of course, he's also patting himself on the back since he's great at Occlumency and non-verbal spells.

5) Snape is turning out to be as great a figure as Voldemort and Harry. These are their similarities: 1) they look alike 2) they're all 1/2 bloods 3) they all have a title ("Lord Voldemort," "The Half-Blood Prince," and "The Chosen One") 4) they all had abusive childhoods. Snape is more important than we all have thought - especially in light of the fact that book 6 is named after him. What does this mean??

On the whole, I refuse to believe that it's as simple as: Snape killed Dumbledore, Snape is evil. There must be more, even if "more" is not "Snape is good." I do know that both M and I felt depressed for a few days after finishing the book. I was shocked I felt so bad - I guess I watched my own personal hero murder someone who seemed like the only source of hope in the books.

Moltmannian: Published Scholar

Congratulations to Moltmannian, who received notice yesterday that his article has been accepted for publication by the Scottish Journal of Theology! This is no mean feat, considering the editorial board, and it gives me a sense of elated satisfaction to note that Jürgen himself has published in this journal.

So, look for Moltmannian's article on Moltmann & Ricoeur in a future volume.

I Was Wrong: I am the Height of Cool Compared to These Freaks

Gaunilo's asked about my theories on Snape now that I've finished HBP - I am thrilled at the opportunity to geek out yet again. But before I do, I just had to direct your attention to what are probably the funniest cases of fan outrage I have ever witnessed. Premise: (and I don't really consider this a spoiler, but read on at your own risk) there have been hints at romantic relationships throughout the HP books. Apparently, some "shippers" (the fan word for those obsessed with relationships) have actually believed, up until bk 6, that Harry and Hermione would get together. They call themselves "Harmonians" (get it, Harry + Hermione) vs. the (more sane) Herons (Hermione + Ron shippers).

In recent news, JKR gave an interview with the webmasters of Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron. During this interview, all parties involved had a good laugh at the sadly mistaken Harmonians. Emerson, the Mugglenet moderator, used the word "delusional." Harmionian reaction has been raging on ever since. You MUST read this, which Emerson calls his "Wall of Shame" - excerpts of fan reaction as clipped from the forums. No, I mean you MUST read it, and ALL the way down. And MAKE SURE you link to the petition.

Incidentally, I have fallen in love with a new net abbreviation: IDGRA. As in: I Don't Give a Rat's Ass.
Snappy.

780V/740Q Or How My GRE Score is an Act of God

I am not posting my score to boast or to pronounce that I triumphed over ETS this last Saturday. I am posting it in order to state, once and for all, that GRE scores are COMPLETELY ARBITRARY.

Here's the story: the highest I had ever managed to score on a diagnostic was 700 Verbal and 690 Quantitative. That was in the comfort and calmness of my own home. On Saturday, after giving up my personal possessions and having my photo taken (ummm, this has a striking resemblance to being incarcerated), I began to bomb the GRE. I spent 5 MINUTES on the first math question. I could feel the fear rising in the pit of my stomach. I was SO out of time for the rest of the section that I guessed blindly on the last 10 questions and most of the graph interpretation questions. I was also short on time for the verbal section - by the third reading comprehension passage I was skimming the text.

I took the experimental section in order to put off seeing my devastating score. After I pressed the button to accept my score I literally had to put my hand over my mouth to supress an expletive of disbelief (this would be frowned upon by the warden - sorry, proctor).

I am left to conclude that my score is either 1) completely of my own imagination 2) a fluke due to a computer error or 3) a Supernatural intervention. Take your pick.

Moltmannian has informed me that I have scored above what Yale's School of Economics requires for the Quantitative section. I find this highly hilarious.

Satire after Cromwell, Or How Education Ruined Me for the GRE*

As I prepare to take the GRE this Saturday, I have sunk into the Slough of Despond since I realized that my verbal - especially Reading Comprehension - majorly blows. Of all things!!! Since taking a prep course, my math has improved considerably while my verbal score stays stubbornly fixed.

Then, after taking a mini-quiz on reading comp today, I realized the ironic heart of the matter: grad school has robbed me of a higher score (yes I have to take the GREs again since my last score was 5+ years ago). When reading a piece on satire post-1660, during the Restoration, I am asked whether the passage implies that a) satire came to dominance among other literary genres or b) greater political freedom allowed for more diversity in satirical pieces. My mind immediately jumps to the turn of the political tide in Britain, from the Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell to the Restoration of Charles II. Answer: b) greater political freedom. Wrong, wrong, wrong. Woefully wrong.

Other things that do not help my reading: training to be continually subversive, looking for the subtext, and other silly, silly things.

Oh woe is me. ETS does not care about the unspoken undercurrent and multiple possibilities of text! ETS is firmly rooted in the Modern Age of direct signifiers and meaning. If only the essay portion would allow me to write on that!

blug blug blug blug ("And Jeremiah sank in the mud.")

*please excuse this blog, which is basically a rant in which I try to prove that I really am not an imbecile and am really quite brilliant

Further Evidence of Said Geekiness...and HP re: AsAms

I love Luna Lovegood.

This is a sample from a web site I find strangely irresistable: The Potter Puffs.

In other news, I have just read that Cho Chang in movie #4 has a "heavy accent". If we're not talkin' Scottich accent then that makes this ALAG hella pissed. I was so glad that J. K. Rowling created an Asian character who 1) speaks English as her first language 2) does not know any martial arts and 3) is not described as "exotic". If lame-ass movie producers have slapped her with an Asian accent all I have to say is: oh for fuck's sake.

After looking up Katie Leung (the actress for Cho), I am pretty horrified at the level of ignorance and venom out there. Quote:

Hate Katie Leung sites have been established by jealous Potter fans, while chat sites last week ran hot with criticism of her looks and Asiatic background. "Katie is a beast. She looks like a monster, not the love interest of my Daniel Radcliffe!" said a correspondent on the Asian American Film chat site. -- The Sun-Herald

There have also been complaints about her ethnicity, i.e. if she's supposed to be Chinese why does she have a Korean surname. I never knew Cho was supposed to be Chinese - I always assumed she was Korean, knowing several Korean Changs. And the discussion could go on forever regarding the "motivation" behind the addition of Chang to HP:

Jealous online teens write in their thoughts in forums and ever-popular blogs, as well as popular Asian American watchdog websites like Angry Asian Man. Some Asian teens complain that Leung is "ugly," while other non-Asian fans are "jealous" that Harry Potter is kissing an Asian, though this is what happens in Harry Potter #5. Chang rarely speaks throughout the entire book series (until she is in a relationship with Harry Potter). She is always described as pretty and popular. One may ask: Is Rowling attempting to be politically correct by choosing an Asian as Harry's love interest? --Philippine News Online

Um, was the PC-motivation question asked of the Patil twins or Lee Jordan (not that they were romantically involved with Harry - that would be interesting...)? If not, then why ask it now? As for the "Cho-fits-a-stereotype-of Asian-girl" I think that just about ANY portrayal at this point will fit the bill of "stereotype." If she's pretty, we'll complain she's exoticized. If she's agressive, we'll say she's the Dragon Lady. If she's quiet, we'll say she's submissive. If she's smart, etc. etc. All I ask is that she speak without an Asian accent, perform no martial arts moves, stay out of a qi-pao, and, you know, doesn't turn into a dragon.

My Name is MarianEvans and I am a Geek

I watched Trekkies the other night...only to see what I could become, what I am only a few posts on a web forum away from becoming.

Just to give you an idea, in the last week I have:
1) argued heatedly on a Harry Potter forum*
2) schemed with a fellow forum member to begin a new thread
3) partially reread HP canon to prove my theory and disprove another*
4) started using "canon" in reference to the HP books

I am horrified to discover that it's so easy for me to be sucked into the world of obsessive geekdom. This is especially apparent when I reveal that HP is not my main nerd addiction - I am also a devotee of Tolkien and Studio Ghibli.

But what really separates these interests from those considered socially "normal" and "acceptable"? Is it because fans of these particular movies/books oftentimes withdraw from reality and assume the characters they so love? Can it be that these fans are rarely exposed to sunlight? I feel that I have unique perspective since I straddle the line (at least I hope I do!). I see the attraction of a shared world and fantasy, but I prefer to share it with people I know, have actually seen in the flesh. I also do not construct my entire life around one obsession or spend money on fan paraphernalia... Fellow quasi-geeks: what are your thoughts?

*In case you're wondering what the theory/contraversy was about, here it is (HP spoiler alert! run your cursor over to read the hidden text**): I'm a proponent of the popular theory regarding who R.A.B. is in the Half Blood Prince - Regulus Black. I feel that there is more storyline evidence supporting this theory, seeing how so much time is spent on the Black family and its possessions (actually, a locket is found in the house in bk 5). There has been, however, an alternative theory that R.A.B. is Amy Benson, one of the orphans that Tom Riddle takes down to the cave before he went to Hogwarts. This theory is based mostly on the fact that her name is mentioned in conjunction with the cave. The rest of the theory, in my opinion, is based on hooey. So, I have spent (wasted) a lot of time arguing with the main advocate of this theory. In the end, I don't give a rat's ass whether it's Amy Benson or Regulus Black - but I found myself ready to kill this woman because of her dogmatism and her complete ignorance of Ockham's Razor. Sigh. What's wrong with me?

**Oh my god, I have written "spoiler alert".