quantumreality

As those of you know who see me on the STFU, marionros really, really fucking annoys me.



Well, mariem_1's latest report of the stupidity that passes for discourse among some of the more batshit Snapefen included this gem:

Bravo! One of the *best* HP essays I've ever read. And you hit the nail on the head too. When people ask me why I hate these books so much, I'll tell them that this is because they, the books, are fascist in nature. Oh, I'm sure JKR would be shocked to hear me say it, and believe that she is actually quite liberal and against nastybad things like fascism (because *everybody* knows that fascims is bad. That's why she gave her 'baddies' the nazi salute, after all) but JKR isn't the sharpest pencil in the box, and I doubt she even knows what fascism entails. Say what you like, these books are *definitely* fascist in nature.

I was rereading old threads in HP4GU last week, and I found a post from lizzyben04 which linked to an essay by Umberto Eco about fascism:

http://www.themodernword.com/eco/eco_blackshirt.html

It's quite scary; all 14 points of fascism Eco calls are displayed in the Potter books - by the Wizarding World, and, more frighteningly, by the 'good side'!

And I got pissed off enough to click the link and actually conduct a point by point display of "Fascism, marionros is getting it wrong":

1. The first feature of Ur-Fascism is the cult of tradition.

Well, the Slytherins seem to be the most 'traditionalist' of the lot: they seem to be purebloods drawn to Voldemort's ideology of casting out the Muggleborns. Also, in the Tales of Beedle the Bard, Dumbledore reports that Lucius Malfoy took the opportunity to criticize him in unflattering terms. Lucius Malfoy has also, in the first few books, been reported to disparage Dumbledore as well. In short, a reformer (Dumbledore) is attacked by someone who prefers all sorts of outdated ideas in the name of tradition (Malfoy).

2. Traditionalism implies the rejection of modernism.

See above. The more conservative purebloods seem to vehemently reject the idea that all magic users are equal and that magical beings deserve consideration. Look at Umbridge, for example.

3. Irrationalism also depends on the cult of action for action's sake.

This doesn't seem to apply to the HP world, though I agree that both Fudge's and Harry's need to be doing something in a crisis situation (Fudge sends Hagrid to Azkaban, and Harry rushes to the Dept of Mysteries) do not result in good consequences. However I think this overall motif is absent from the books.

4. The critical spirit makes distinctions, and to distinguish is a sign of modernism.

Notice that Voldemort, in particular, suppresses dissent among his Death Eaters. Any action by someone he is directly talking to that does not meet his approval is met with disproportionate response. The best example is him killing the goblin after finding out Hufflepuff's Cup was taken.

This is definitely not the case among those who support Dumbledore's ideals. They can distinguish actions originating from malice and those originating from good intentions.

5. Besides, disagreement is a sign of diversity.

See above, and also note that Dumbledore does not harm people for disagreeing with what he has to say.

6. Ur-Fascism derives from individual or social frustration.

It's usually the most privileged that end up feeling "socially frustrated", though I will admit that fascist ideologies have held sway among all sorts of sectors of the population.

In Voldemort's case, however, he purposely sought followers from those people who felt threatened by the rise of Muggleborn entry into the wizarding world and who naturally wanted jobs that would allow them to use their magical talents.

7. To people who feel deprived of a clear social identity, Ur-Fascism says that their only privilege is the most common one, to be born in the same country.

This isn't really prevalent in the books.

8. The followers must feel humiliated by the ostentatious wealth and force of their enemies.

It's hinted in the books that a lot of the wealth of the wizarding world is lopsidedly distributed in favor of wealthy families whose children tend to go to Slytherin.

So in actual fact, the immersion in magical culture and the wealth of the Slytherins does create opportunities for humiliation of others, such as Muggleborns, centaurs and even goblins. Marionros must have thought she hit the jackpot with this one.

Yet it is not the latter groups that get swept up in a quasi-fascist ideology, it's the very followers of Voldemort in the first place!

As Eco points out the followers of Voldemort have to believe that (a) Muggleborns are a grave threat, and simultaneously (b) that Muggleborns are too insignificant to bother about because they will shortly be steameollered into the ground, metaphorically speaking.

9. For Ur-Fascism there is no struggle for life but, rather, life is lived for struggle.

I'm not so sure this shows up in the books.

10. Elitism is a typical aspect of any reactionary ideology, insofar as it is fundamentally aristocratic, and aristocratic and militaristic elitism cruelly implies contempt for the weak.

THIS. IN SPADES. IS ALL OVER THE BOOKS.

The best example of this kind of contempt for those perceived as inferiors and the weaker members of society comes from the words of Draco Malfoy. Right from the beginning, he expresses disdain for "the other sort", and rapidly moves to "Mudblood"ing his way through the next several years in school.

Never mind what ol' Lucy got up to.

And Voldemort, for whom power is its sole justification. Anyone who does not seek to employ all of his or her magical power to subjugate others is, in his view, "too weak".

11. In such a perspective everybody is educated to become a hero.

I'm sure marionros thought she hit the jackpot with this one too, but if you'll read the books, Harry discourages others from trying to think of him as a hero, and does not try to encourage risky acts. Even Dumbledore does not counsel the everyday commission of 'heroic' acts.

Overall I'd say this motif isn't in the books, no matter how much she rails against ebil Gryffindors.

12. Since both permanent war and heroism are difficult games to play, the Ur-Fascist transfers his will to power to sexual matters.

Not in the books.

13. Ur-Fascism is based upon a selective populism, a qualitative populism, one might say.

You could argue that Voldemort practiced this among his Death Eaters by holding them up as equals to each other and superior to all other magical beings, but that's probably a bit of a stretch.

14. Ur-Fascism speaks Newspeak.

Again, not in the books. There's no real attempt to alter the language, although in DH, Defence Against the Dark Arts became just Dark Arts, but that's more of a "we will now teach people all the ways to hurt each other" than any euphemization of language.



Sorry for the tl;dr there, folks. :)