Shlep D-O Double Gizzle's Web Pizzle

Rowling v. Lucas continued...

Before we continue with the compare/contrast, there are some administrative notes. Two new sites have been added to the Politrix section. The Huffington Post and Truthout.org are great places to browse national media articles, op-ed pieces, and blog entries that might not exactly make it on the next Fox News report. They are both sort of clearing houses of news and opinions from both major media outlets and lesser known ones. Though they are decidedly liberal and left-wing, they don't hold back on any target deserving of criticism. Plenty of revealing information and snarky comments, so please browse and enjoy.

Second, the Spins, Flicks and Words section has been updated to include some of the things that have caught (or re-caught) my attention over the last few months. And lastly, the Gallery section has been taken down for some re-tooling.

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There was some disturbing and sad news this week as well. A suicide bombing in Bangladesh on Monday was the nation's first in it's 34-year history. Although it barely registered as news in a climate where suicide bombings are a more-than daily occurence in Iraq, it was a very personal blow to the pizzle. Bangladesh is about 90% Muslim, and, as East Pakistan, was originally created as a homeland for Bengali Muslims. But we have always prided ourselves on the other parts of our identity as well, like our cultural independence, our language and our values of tolerance and understanding. Extremism is of course, nothing new in any pluralistic society, but only recently has it taken a violent turn in Bangladesh. I always felt a small amout of pride that no matter what other problems the nation had, crippling poverty, pervasive corruption, a barely functioning democracy, Bangalis never resorted to explosions to punctuate their idealogy. With such a strong intellectual, literary and spiritual legacy it's truly depressing to think we've sunk so low.

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Enough sadness though, let's get back to what we do best...distract ourselves.

The Verdict?

We ended last time with my contention that in terms of accessibility, the world of Harry Potter had a small leg up on Star Wars. Is the extra bit of imagination required for full Star Wars immersion worth it? Well, the short answer is yes, it is after all, the Greatest Story Ever Told (Da-da-duuuh-duuuh-da-da-da-daaaaa-da!!). In addition, about 95% of Harry Potter movie viewers have already read the book, meaning there's no real element of surprise, just anticipation. Episodes 4,5 and 6 of Star Wars were brand new to the world. No one knew going in that Vader was Anakin, Luke and Leia's father, and that's pretty huge in terms of storytelling impact. By the time an HP movie hits the theaters the impact is lost. For GOF, we already knew Cedric was going to die and Voldemort was coming back. So in terms of initial impact the slight edge goes to Star Wars.

What about lasting influence? In this case, I'm going to give it up to Harry Potter, and here's why. Looking at it from the present time and place, it's no question that Star Wars has had a more significant effect on popular culture, but Lucas did have a thirty-year head start. And in some important ways the production of episodes one through three may diminish some of that lasting influence. We all had sixteen years in-between episode six and episode one to discover and re-discover the story, and to wonder if we could ever enter that world again. While it was refreshing to return to that galaxy, far, far away, and neat to see all the pieces fit together (and to realize that the originally intended six-part story was really all about Anakin), the whole enterprise seemed like too much explanation, and no revelation. For every hole that was filled in, there was a new hole that opened up. There was too much with the "metachlorins" (I still don't understand what the hell they are, the Force was better as a spiritual, not biological, entity) and the awkward romances. Anakin was supposedly tempted towards the dark side because he loved a little too deeply, first his mother then Padme, but if Padme was so crucial to the creation of Vader, why is she never even mentioned in 4, 5 and 6? Luke eagerly probes old Obi-Wan for details about his father, but remains curiously incurious about his mother.

(As a momma's boy, this was a key difference to me. Padme dies and cannot be a mother to her kids because of the broken love between her and Anakin, which is extraordinary. In a way, Luke's redemption of Anakin is also a validation of Padme's death, but neither Luke nor Leia are ever made aware of this. Harry, as we are constantly reminded, is the only person to have ever survived the killing curse, and is destined to face Voldemort again because his mother sacrificed her life for his. He is continually searching for the love and courage and support he lost from both his parents.)

So even though I look forward to the day when I can sit and watch all six Star Wars DVD's back-to-back and in order, it can't reverse the original experience of seeing the conclusion first...advantage Harry.

HP on the other hand, started as a grass roots, (and sequential) literary movement. Even though, as stated before, Book 6 takes on the characteristics of Episodes 1 and 2, we are all set up now for the grand finale, which should be the biggest literary event ever and (two-three years later) the biggest film event since, well, since Star Wars. Harry's story started with a little kid who discovers he can do magic, and his story has progressed steadily since. After six years of adventures and schooling, Harry has to prepare himself for the ultimate showdown. In the meantime, kids, and plenty of adults, can pick up the books and movies and get acquainted with the kids at Hogwarts. With each new reader/viewer the swelling of anticipation for how Harry will end up after year 7 will grow. I think in a few years time, we'll see the that the influence of Rowling's world will have eclipsed that of Lucas'. The fanclubs and costumes and "I speak Parseltoungue" bumper stickers are already ubiquitous, and the sky is the limit.

At the risk of sounding sacrilegious then, (and inviting the furor of plastic light sabre weilding freaks everywhere), I rule in favor of Rowling in the case of Rowling v. Lucas on the basis of the the tremendous upside potential of Harry Potter. Let's hope we are not disappointed.

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Shout outs are due to the Lord of the Rings (I admit, I never read the books, but the movies were fabulous) and the upcoming Chronicles of Narnia (Religiously read the books as a kid, I may end up doing a Rowling v. CS Lewis piece one day)

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"I wish I...I could make it right, if I would just swallow my pride"
---Common and Kanye

Posted by sheelpi at December 3, 2005 11:57 PM