I did eventually go see the new Harry Potter flick, and I noticed something that may have gone completely unobserved by most of the fans. Actually, it's a brilliant imagery when you consider the overtones, but for many of the people who read the novels, facism and especially that under Hitler seems so far away.
From the pins to the leather jackets, the Ministry exemplifies facism as a hint of what life under Voldemort will be like. Even while the new minister of magic speaks of 'temples of tolerance' they practice a policy of anything except that. It is very common for them to do exactly that- to speak of one thing and do the opposite. They also villify and dehumanize the 'mudbloods' and such, with LeStrange (wow, what a fascinatingly inventive name...) going so far as to cut the word into Granger's arm. People are paid to roam about and round up dissidents, the subhuman, etc., paid thugs interested in their own advancement rather than heirarchy.
Like most facist regimes, the people in power are not their for demonstrated skill. They occupy positions because they share ideology with the brain trust. Voldemort puts people in positions based on loyalty and commitment rather than any other skillset, which is why devout punks serve as 'Snatchers' (another inventive name) but Malfoy does nothing, because his faith is in question.
Intrusive searches, inaccurate information, threats of violence and lingering fear rule the atmosphere of the movie. It is really kind of a shame, because this movie upsets the timbre of the series. Sure, there must be a confrontation, but we've now dragged the confrontation out from a few chapters in each book to the entire book and two films based thereon. Furthermore, the conflict resolution is hardly a pacificstic live and let live green theorem. There will be violence, anticlimactic death, and disruption, things for which America is routinely critiqued.
Many of the people who see it will not notice because they are too young to recognize the symbols of Nazi Germany evident in this film. Most of the readers and fans have never met a real SS Officer or been to a death camp. Their only exposure would be from "The Sound of Music" or "Schindler's List", both of which are old enough movies that these kids have probably seen neither.
It was one major thing that stuck out with me. There are signs all around if one only has the eyes to see.
From the pins to the leather jackets, the Ministry exemplifies facism as a hint of what life under Voldemort will be like. Even while the new minister of magic speaks of 'temples of tolerance' they practice a policy of anything except that. It is very common for them to do exactly that- to speak of one thing and do the opposite. They also villify and dehumanize the 'mudbloods' and such, with LeStrange (wow, what a fascinatingly inventive name...) going so far as to cut the word into Granger's arm. People are paid to roam about and round up dissidents, the subhuman, etc., paid thugs interested in their own advancement rather than heirarchy.
Like most facist regimes, the people in power are not their for demonstrated skill. They occupy positions because they share ideology with the brain trust. Voldemort puts people in positions based on loyalty and commitment rather than any other skillset, which is why devout punks serve as 'Snatchers' (another inventive name) but Malfoy does nothing, because his faith is in question.
Intrusive searches, inaccurate information, threats of violence and lingering fear rule the atmosphere of the movie. It is really kind of a shame, because this movie upsets the timbre of the series. Sure, there must be a confrontation, but we've now dragged the confrontation out from a few chapters in each book to the entire book and two films based thereon. Furthermore, the conflict resolution is hardly a pacificstic live and let live green theorem. There will be violence, anticlimactic death, and disruption, things for which America is routinely critiqued.
Many of the people who see it will not notice because they are too young to recognize the symbols of Nazi Germany evident in this film. Most of the readers and fans have never met a real SS Officer or been to a death camp. Their only exposure would be from "The Sound of Music" or "Schindler's List", both of which are old enough movies that these kids have probably seen neither.
It was one major thing that stuck out with me. There are signs all around if one only has the eyes to see.
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