20 May 2010
Posts Tagged ‘OBS Speaks Out’
Why Harry Potter Is A Timeless Series
By Farrha Khan
A series that has inspired movies, encyclopedias, board games, video games, and even a theme park, JK Rowling’s Harry Potter is now inevitably a timeless piece.
Some may argue that it isn’t a timeless piece and that it can not stand up against other timeless pieces such as Moby Dick or Lord of the Rings.
It’s been more than a decade since the first book Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was published and about 2 years since the last of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, was released. The series has inspired thousands of fan fiction stories, fan art and fan made websites, games and even a Quidditch competition in England. But more importantly, the readers of the Harry Potter series are not only children of all ages but adults too.
Many, considering the fact that the first of the series was released in 1997, have either grown up with the series, eagerly awaiting each installment’s release, or have just now discovered it and read them all in one hit. I personally started reading the series by the persuasion of a close friend. While I enjoyed learning about this whole new magical world, I couldn’t quite understand the hype surrounding the series until I reached book number three. Of course, this is different for everyone, as some people love it 5 pages in to the first book. But for me, the storyline of the friendship and treachery shared between Sirius, Remus and Peter fascinated me and drew me further into the whole series. This I believe is the main draw of the series.
The fact that there are 7 books, the fact that within the story line there are so many different generations of people facing differing issues, the fact that there is so many sub-plots and relationships, sociological issues and questions explored within, the series lends itself to be very easily related to by any number of people from all over the world (and it has been translated into more than 67 official languages already).
To put it simply, there are many reasons this series should be considered a timeless piece. Some of these include:
Story structure: The heroic quest of little Harry Potter against the evil Lord Voldemort generally follows the traditional structure of any fantasy epic, albeit drawn out over 7 books. The fact that there is seven books allowed JK Rowling to really dig deep and flesh out the plot, sub plot and explain the main workings of the magical world. White each novel holds its own adventures and own main problem, climaxing and drawing to a conclusion to the end of the novel, the over-all plot holds it all together and builds an inevitable climax in book 7. Because of its typical fantasy structure, one could almost guess the outcome of the main plot line, but what keeps the story strong are the sub-plots and the minor characters and their storylines that the reader can follow just as easily.
Good vs. Evil: This is the most important theme of the series. The triumph over good, the want for our hero to defeat evil. Or in Harry Potter’s case, the power of love to do good over evil. It’s epic, timeless and the theme most people relate to.
Motifs and Symbolism: There are many motifs, themes and symbolisms in the series and each lend the reader to draw out whatever meaning they have, relate it to their own lives, their own relationships. Although this is a story mostly set in a magical world, it is also a story based in contemporary society – a society we can all relate to, whether it is family structure and relationships, political and governmental issues, school environment, bullies and friendship, sport, etc. These are just a few of the things I could draw meaning from and relate back to my own life and society. These aspects that will remain a part of society, cultures and communities well into the future. The fact that the magical world is just a hidden part of today’s society makes it more meaningful than say Moby Dick’s society or a completely fantastical world like Tolkien’s Middle Earth.
Racism and Prejudice: The political undercurrent that flows through all the novels in the Harry Potter series is one that I find striking with a humorous irony. It may not be obvious or even intentional but it is there. Oppression, inequality, poverty, racism is all very evident in the main three character’s. Harry is oppressed and almost slave like in the home of the Dursley’s, Ron and his family is stricken with poverty, and Hermione is a “Mudblood’ – not a pure blood wizard with a wizarding heritage, as her parents are both non-magical. Voldemort’s main prejudiced cause is to rid the world of Muggles (non-magical folk). The Dursley’s are frightened of magic, and oppress Harry because of his wizarding heritage. The prejudice in Harry Potter exists on both sides. Can you make a comparison to our society today?
The role in education: Another reason why Harry Potter is a timeless piece is because of the very prominent role it is playing in our education system. Many schools around the world have Harry Potter firmly in their syllabus as a teaching tool. The popularity of the series has made it became a novel that teachers are eagerly using to promote reading, writing and understanding prose. I personally would have loved to have Harry Potter as homework reading, though I was lucky to have Roald Dahl as well.
Death: This is something that is entrenched throughout the whole series. The death of a loved one, the death of a parent or both, the death of a friend, the guilt felt by death and fear of death, the want of immortality. This is something faced by all, the horrors, the nightmares and the truth of finality of it. The wonderful thing about this theme and the others that I have mentioned, as well as the motifs and symbols, is that many of them transcends culture, race, religion, language and even time. Making themes like ‘Death’ play an important role in making this series timeless.
The Magical World of Harry Potter: I want to be magical. I want to be a part of this world. I want to be able to go to Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley. More importantly, I can do all of this apparently whilst still living in everyday non-magical life. Or so it would be if I was a part of the Harry Potter world. And seeing as I’m not… I can dream and play dress up and it can be a whole lot more real than if I were to dress up in, say, Star Wars regalia. Yes, I could watch the Quidditch World Cup played by the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association in America, I can try to cook up some Butterbeer from recipes online, I can participate in a magical duel on my Wii console at home and soon enough I can walk into a virtual Hogwart’s castle in Orland, Florida. This is all real. That has been the power of the Harry Potter series. Tell me it’s not timeless.
Hogwarts: Well, I’ve added this to my list because I think I would have enjoyed high school so much more had I been able to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Quidditch, the classes, the house pride… I am so jealous of a mythical and non-existent school! More importantly, I think I would have been either a Slytherin or Gryffindor and on the Quidditch team! Yes… that is my most important point here.
These are only but a few reasons why Harry Potter shall undoubtedly be a timeless piece, remembered, read and loved for many years on. I could continue, but we’d be here for a very long time (perhaps this article would end up being more than the Harry Potter books combined).
JK Rowling’s Harry Potter isn’t the most ground-breaking, earth-shattering piece of writing ever written or to be written, and I don’t claim it to be the best series in the world. But it is a story that will endure on for many years, and will be read by many generations to come. Especially if they visit the Harry Potter theme park! JK Rowling’s series is a timeless piece.
For me though, I just want to be able to go to Hogwart’s, own a pet Pygmy Puff, eat a chocolate frog, drink some Butterbeer and play a round of Quidditch while laughing along with the Weasley twins.
Wouldn’t you?
21 Mar 2010
OBS RECAP & REVIEW: LAST WEEK IN NEWS, 3/15-3/21
Author: Caro | Filed under: News Blog, Weekly News Highlights
The Twilight Saga News Wrap-up:
Kristen Stewart Reacts To The ‘Eclipse’ Trailer
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse official website launched with interactive Twitter feed
AUDITION INFORMATION FOR “BREAKING DAWN” MOVIE
“NEW MOON” DVD CLIPS INCLUDE NEVER-SEEN-BEFORE FOOTAGE
“NEW MOON” BEHIND THE SCENES – LIFE AFTER TWILIGHT
“NEW MOON” BEHIND THE SCENES – SHOOTING IN ITALY
New Moon DVD Extra- Extended Edward and Bella drive after party
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse – Real Exclusive Sneak Peek from DVD
WHO’S THE BEST CHOICE TO DIRECT “BREAKING DAWN”?
INTERVIEW WITH “TWILIGHT” SCREENWRITER MELISSA ROSENBERG
Movie News Wrap-up:
STEVEN SPIELBERG MAY FILM THE ‘ROBOPOCALYPSE’
TOP FIVE VINTAGE WEREWOLF MOVIES
Author & Book News Wrap-up:
WEEKLY BOOK RELEASES
STEPHEN KING’S AMERICAN VAMPIRE
TV Show News Wrap-up:
TRUE BLOOD SEASON 3 OFFICIAL PREMIERE DATE
Enter ‘Sandman’ For Neil Gaiman And Matthew Vaughn? ‘Kick-Ass’ Director Wants HBO-Style Series
OBS Fun News Wrap-up:
MOVIE REVIEWS: THE CELL
OBS SPEAKS OUT: THE “ECLIPSE” TRAILER – WHAT WAS AND WASN’T THERE
TWITTER TOPIC: IS HOLLYWOOD RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS?
OBS PRESENTS BOOK COVER CLUSTERS: GREEN
OBS RECAP & REVIEW LOST: S6 EPISODE 8 ‘RECON’
BOOK REVIEWS: CASSANDRA CLARE- CITY OF GLASS
OBS TOP 5/10: ALICE IN WONDERLAND AND LUCKY CHARMS
MOVIE REVIEWS: ALICE IN WONDERLAND
OBS AUTHOR PROFILES: ALICE SEBOLD
OBS PRESENTS: READ-A-LIKES FOR ‘THE LOVELY BONES’
OBS CASTING COUCH: DARKEST POWERS
OBS PRESENTS: FAN ART MADNESS – GHOST EDITION
We are currently doing book clubs:
Alice in Wonderland
The Lovely Bones
and you can still check out
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Have a great new week! 
23 Feb 2010
OBS SPEAKS OUT: WHAT THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING?
Author: ifellhard | Filed under: News Blog, OBS Speaks OutOBS Staff Member Katie shares her initial reaction to her viewing of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief”
I’m normally not one to be to picky when a book gets made into a movie. Yes, some things bother me, but I don’t let them really change my opinion on the movie. I tend to separate the two things. Well not this time, after coming home from seeing “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”, I have to say I’m completely disappointed. The movie was absolutely nothing like the book. It might as well have a different title. When talking just about the movie, I think it was good, but I just can’t get past all the things they changed. To me a lot of the things were very unnecessary.
(SPOILERS DON’T READ ON IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS)
So here are the things that bug me the most. Lets start from the beginning of the movie and let me just add if a movie is different from the book from the very start, then that is just setting up the movie to go down hill. Anyways I really wish they would have kept the books beginning. With Percy learning all about Greek, that way when he was at the museum in the movie, he actually looks like he cares and knows something, instead of just listening to his iPod. Also I wish they would have had the scene where Percy over hears Grover and Mr. Brunner talking. But one of the things that bothers me the most is how Percy finds out who his dad is, in the movie they just out right know! I don’t like that at all. I guess I understand that by them just knowing it cuts out a few scenes and leaves them with more time to do other things. Still doesn’t mean I like it though. Another thing I really disliked was Percy not getting the quest. The last big thing that bothered me was Luke and why he stole the lightning bolt. Other things got on my nerves like how they got the pearls, what they did with medusas head, the flying shoes, talking to Luke on the phone; instead of through the rainbow, and how Percy’s mom came back from the Underworld. I guess that’s it for my rant. I can’t give everything away. Even though there are some more things that bother me. I guess I just really had high hopes for this movie, I even stayed up till 4 am last night to finish the first book. I guess I learned my lesson, maybe I should watch the movie first, then read the books.
17 Feb 2010
OBS SPEAKS OUT: REIMAGINING ANCIENT RELIGIONS: EGYPT
Author: Staar84 | Filed under: News Blog, OBS Speaks OutThanks to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, I’ve started thinking about how many other books and movies use mythology and ancient religions as jumping off points for their stories. Since Greek mythology isn’t my strong suit, I’ve decided just to cover my favorites. I tried to avoid spoilers, but there are some included.
There are some theories that suggest that the pyramids could not have been built by humans without help; they must have been built by aliens, who are represented in the Egyptian religion as Gods and Goddesses. The pyramids apparently line up with the belt in the constellation Orion, suggesting importance of these stars for one reason or another. Some say that this puts them in an optimal place for an observatory. While this hardly proves the pyramids were built by aliens, it is interesting.
And this idea has served as the jumping off point for Science Fiction writers. The movie The Fifth Element is based in Egyptian mythology, and the idea of alien influence. The movie begins in Egypt in 1914, right before the start of World War I. An archeologist is examining hieroglyphs that tell the story of a great evil and a divine light, produced by a fifth element. The priest who protects this information is about to kill the archeologist and his assistant (they know too much) when the aliens return to take the fifth element and its stones to protect them from the coming war. They tell the priest to pass down the information, for their return, as generations have before him.
While The Fifth Element doesn’t use any myths specifically, according to the director commentary all of the hieroglyphs used in the movie were either already there (as in, original Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs) or copies of hieroglyphs from other places in Egypt; leading credence to the Orion theory.
Other Science Fiction uses specific myths, as well as the aliens theories. In the original movie Stargate, Dr. Daniel Jackson is brought in to translate a set of hieroglyphs that other Egyptologists have been unable to solve (Dr. Jackson was chosen because he was the most outspoken in his belief that aliens built the pyramids as landing platforms, and they were in fact older than believed). He realizes that they aren’t hieroglyphs, but constellations; the first one he recognizes is Orion.
The movie’s main deity is Ra, the God of the Sun (one of the most important Egyptian Gods). The planet they travel to is called Abydos, which was the capital of Ancient Egypt during the Nineteenth Dynasty. This theme of using Ancient Egyptian names is repeated in the TV series, as races, other planets, and even the metal the Stargate is made out of: Naqada (a town on the Nile, the name is Egyptian for “gold”. The series expands into a dozen other Gods and Goddesses (as well as other ancient religions, but more on that later). The aliens, called the Goa’uld, transplanted civilizations from Earth to other planets in the galaxy, posing as their Gods and using them for slave labor and “hosts” (the Goa’uld are snake or wormlike aliens who attach to the spinal column of the human and control their body). Since Ra is killed at the end of the movie, new “Gods” must step up in his place. Throughout Egyptian history, different religions fought for supremacy as Pharaohs from different regions of Africa (Ethiopia, Nubia, Kush, Egypt, and others) ruled the various dynasties of Ancient Egypt. As a result, Gods and Goddesses came in and out of popularity depending on the ruler.
This is reflected in the power struggle of the Goa’uld and their followers in Stargate. First we meet Apophis, who is the Egyptian demon Apep (he’s Apophis in Greek). Apep was the embodiment of darkness and chaos; the perfect protagonist. Throughout the series we also meet Heru’ur (Horus-Heru’er means “Horus the Elder”) God of Sky, War, and Protection; Seth, God of the desert and Chaos; Anubis, Guardian of the Underworld, Hathor, Goddess of Love and Womanhood, and Osiris (who chooses a woman as his host, although he was male in mythology).
Anne Rice also used an Egyptian myth as the basis for the origin story of her vampires. While there is no myth exactly like the one Rice uses, the closest is the legend about Isis and Osiris. Osiris ruled Egypt, but was killed by his jealous brother Seth, and dismembered. His body was scattered across Egypt. Isis searched for the pieces of his body and resurrected him. Osiris became the God of Eternity and Night; the perfect deity for vampires. Before the Twelfth Dynasty, Osiris was also considered the spirit of Becoming, because after death you entered into a new life -the world of the undead.
Beginning in The Vampire Lestat and ending in Queen of the Damned, the story of how vampires were born unfolds. When Queen Akasha orders two witches punished for their barbaric ways, a spirit exacts revenge for the sisters by harassing Akasha and her king, Enkil. He tortures them nearly to the point of death, and then enters Akasha’s body, joining with her soul as it leaves her body and becoming something new. Akasha then bites Enkil and drinks his blood, then feeds him her blood, and they become the first vampires. Rice also describes the introduction of mummification rituals and the banishment of cannibalism, providing more parallels to the Osiris myth, which provides the first rules for the practice in Ancient Egypt (the way Isis resurrected Osiris) as well as the origin of agriculture, since Isis gave the Egyptians wheat and barley.
2 Feb 2010
OBS SPEAKS OUT: THE RIGHTS OF ROBOTS
Author: ifellhard | Filed under: News Blog, OBS Speaks OutOBS SPEAKS OUT: THE RIGHTS OF ROBOTS
By OBS Staffer Staar84
An article on The World of Weird Things website talked about artificial intelligence, mostly in the Matrix, and how robots in the future should be held accountable for their actions. The author used an example of a robot that killed its owner (the the anime Matrix series) that was tried and convicted. He argues that that’s ridiculous because any action like that would be the result of an error in programming or a malfunction: “… in the real world, a machine is property. Hailing [sic] one to court would be like putting a defective toaster on trial for electrocuting your friend”.
But what about all of the other Sci Fi that argues that robots should have rights (and have to follow laws)? If a robot is self aware, then it should be held responsible. After all, when a person snaps and goes crazy, we still hold them accountable for whatever they have done. And isn’t that a defect of the human machine? The question then, that would need to be answered is “what makes something alive?” Since we don’t have the advanced technology around today that would need us to answer that question, I’ll focus on the Sci-Fi that has answered that question.
In I, Robot (the movie, I haven’t read the book yet), Sonny is accused of murdering his owner (or “father”, as he calls him). There is no trial, he is simply a defective product, and is scheduled to be shut down. But he is saved at the last minute by Dr. Calvin because he is “unique”. Even the older model robots show some signs of humanity: we see the robot models created before Sonny huddling together for companionship in their crates. They are the predecessor of Sonny, and he is the advancement: while they are programmed to have human-like qualities, Sonny not only seeks out companionship, but had emotions; so isn’t he alive?
In Star Trek: The Next Generation (“The Measure of a Man”), a scientist from Star Fleet arrives onboard the Enterprise because he thinks he can create more androids like Data, but he has to crack Data open to study him. The process of studying him could permanently damage him and delete his memory. While Captain Picard is hesitant, he agrees to the study because Data is Star Fleet property. But when Data comes to him and tells him he does not wish to go through with the procedure, Picard changes his mind, and a trial to determine Data’s humanity begins. Picard defends him and points out “… that Data was created by a human…it’s not relevant. Children are created by the building blocks of their parents DNA. Are they property?” Data also keeps personal effects, with no logical value, including a picture of a fellow crew member who was killed, because he misses her. Picard then asks the scientist what is required for sentience: “intelligence, self-awareness, conscience”. Data eventually wins personal rights.
Yet another example of artificial intelligence being classified as life is from Stargate SG-1. In the episode “Urgo” (Season 3, episode 16) the team travels to a planet, and they inadvertently return with a computer program in their brains that interacts with them in order to learn about their culture. The program (who calls himself “Urgo” tells them he cannot be removed without killing them. They later find out that he was lying, because he can only live through other people. Urgo tells them he lied because his removal means his death and he “want to live! I want to eat pie!”. They decide that he is a living being because he was self-aware enough to defy his programming (which was to be removed after a certain amount of time) and fear death
A more modern example would be animal rights. You could argue (and I am) that most animals are less self-aware than these advanced AI’s, but they still have protective rights. Animals do not fear death the way humans do: they do not look for answers beyond surviving daily struggles. You can be arrested for animal cruelty, even though they can’t speak or create like the robots can. Scientists are only now discovering that there are a limited number of animals that display characteristics of self awareness (Gorillas, Dolphins, Elephants, and Pigs), and even that is not at a level equal to ours. And Kurt Cobain once sang “It’s OK to eat fish/cause they don’t have any feelings”. The difference is that humans created robots. But should that really matter? Wouldn’t anything that knows what it is have a right to live, and at the same time be held responsible for what it does? A dog that is trained to kill by a human is still put down if it follows it’s training, and the dog isn’t aware of the moral implications of the kill. So if a robot kills a human, then a trial would be necessary to determine whether or not it knew what it was doing. As for the idea that a machine is property “A comfortable, easy euphemism: property. But that’s not the issue at all” (Start Trek). If a being is self-aware, then it’s sentient. Shouldn’t it have responsibilities and rights?
What do you think? Join us in the forum and share your thoughts. We’d love to hear from you!
19 Jan 2010
OBS SPEAKS OUT: THE REALITY OF TIME TRAVEL
Author: Staar84 | Filed under: News Blog, OBS Speaks OutTime Travel is a very common theme in Science Fiction. This may be because everyone has something they’d like to do over, or would like to see instead of read about. Or go forward five years and know that everything will turn out alright. So throughout the centuries, writers have imagined ways to make time travel possible. And even if we can’t do it today, we may be able to in the future.
Time travel was seen as mere fantasy until Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. When Einstein realized that time was relative, it changed everything in terms of time travel. Stephen Hawking even tried to disprove time travel, but was unable to (this doesn’t mean it will never be disproven, but it’s a very impressive point in time travel’s favor). H.G. Wells’ Time Traveler argued that time is simply another dimension (the 4th), like up, down or forward in physical space, and since we can move in those, we should be able to move in time.
The Problem with H.G. Wells and Marty McFly
H.G. Wells’ Time Traveler creates a time machine that moves only in the 4th dimension, and travels millennia into the future, even to the end of Earth itself, and returns to Victorian England in time for dinner to tell his story. In Back to the Future, Marty and Doc travel to the past to fix something that wasn’t supposed to happen. Throughout the series they are nearly trapped in the past because of complications with the DeLorian (mostly getting it to 88 miles an hour). Unfortunately, in order to travel through time you would need to reach nearly the speed of light, something neither vehicle is capable of. According to the Theory of Relativity, time is not a constant. The faster you move, the slower time moves. Even astronauts experience this: in orbit they are traveling faster than the people on the surface of the planet, so when they return, they have aged a few microseconds less than everyone else.
Cause and Effect: The Grandfather Paradox and the Butterfly Effect
There are two opposite theories about the effects of time travelers in the past. The Grandfather Paradox states that if you go back in time and kill your grandfather (accidently or on purpose) you will cease to exist. Therefore, since you have already traveled back in time and do exist, you can’t kill your grandfather. This means that no matter what you do in the past, you cannot change the future (either you won’t be able to do it, or it was supposed to happen anyway). Another way to explain time travel to the past (without changing the future) is the many worlds theory. In Quantum Mechanics, the idea that parallel universes exist is plausible. In the instance of time travel, this would mean that if you went back in time and killed your grandfather, you would be thrown into a parallel universe; so essentially you didn’t kill your grandfather, you killed his parallel genetic duplicate.
On the other hand, the Butterfly Effect discusses the cause and effect of two seemingly unrelated events. The simplest explanation I’ve ever heard was in Jurassic Park: “A butterfly can flap its wings in Peking, and in Central Park you get rain instead of sunshine”. For time travel, this means that anything that you disrupt in the past could have profound consequences in the future (see “The Butterfly Effect” and “A Sound of Thunder”). This is why so many Science Fiction movies have time traveling “laws”. But it seems unlikely that this will actually happen.
In his book Physics of the Impossible, Michio Kaku argues that wormholes are the most logical way to travel through time. Using Einstein’s theory and the yet undiscovered Theory of Everything, time travel can happen once we understand the physics of an Event Horizon (in this case, at the edge of the wormhole). Wormhole time travel occurs in Contact by Carl Sagan. Ellie is not only transported to another star system, but she is returned to Earth within seconds, despite her visit on Vega lasting all day.The actual process would look very similar: “[Two] chambers would consist of two concentric spheres…by imploding the outer sphere, the two spheres would create…negative energy. Next, take the first chamber and send it into space at near might-speed velocities. Time slows down in that chamber, so the two clocks are no longer in synchronization. Time beats at different rates inside the two chambers, which are connected by a wormhole…if you are in the second chamber, you can instantly pass through the wormhole…” (224).
In order for a wormhole to work as a time machine, you have to have an entrance point (in time and space) and an exit point. Unfortunately, this means that you would be unable to travel backward in time to a point before your time machine was created (the main “entrance” point). But if you went forward in time, you’d at least be able to get home (and it will be the same home you left-paradox free).
Time Travel, Terminator Style-You can’t take it with you
In the Terminator series, time travel was invented to go back in time to change the future. While we’ve seen that this wouldn’t really work, there are other problems with Terminator style travel. In the series when you go back in time, you can’t take anything with you (this is also true in The Time Traveler’s Wife). The end result is you 1) can’t take any cloths with you and 2) can’t get back to your time, unless you know how to create the time travel device. Since the ways in which physics can currently explain time travel (faster than light machine or wormhole) would allow anything within the boundaries of the device to travel, anything on you or your ship would go back in time.
While we may never see time travel in our lifetime, it is very possible that time travel will be very real for future generations: the science fiction of yesterday is the reality of tomorrow.
