I’ve heard this shit before about the fascist anime treat called “Goblin Slayer” fittingly enough. :scared-fash:
an official HP work deciding that the curses previously considered “unforgivable” by the liberal humanist wizarding society are actually a little forgivable as the franchise declines is a spectacular metaphor for liberalism’s descent into fascist cruelty in crisis.
Also having the painless kill spell as worse than the Death Potions they use for capital punishment.
This has always bothered me. Why is the “instant death” spell considered unforgiveable?
I can understand the torture spell, or mind control spell to be considered abhorrent, but why a spell whose effect can not only be achieved by a huge number of other spells, even ones cast without speaking (e.g. the wand-flick gunshot), but which can also be achieved through basic muggle technology?
Why is a spell like “Sectum Sempra” considered acceptable, despite permanently maiming the target, leaving them writhing in pain, and if not treated, killing them too?
A more intelligent author might have defined entire categories of spells as unforgiveable, like a wizard Geneva Convention, and would have probably included stuff like Horcruxes, necromancy, etc.
Addendum: A better way to define it would also have been to say that the spell effects themselves aren’t directly what leads to such harsh punishment. Instead, they carry symbolic meaning, and are the signature spells of the Death Eaters, that were appropriated by them.
So basically, there are alternative spells you could use to achieve similar effects – but by using one of these 3 particular ones, you are outing yourself as a Wizard Nazi. So basically the spell form of a swastika, wolfsangel, sonnenrad, etc.
Why is the “instant death” spell considered unforgiveable?
I mean, broadly speaking, because it murders people.
why a spell whose effect can not only be achieved by a huge number of other spells, even ones cast without speaking (e.g. the wand-flick gunshot), but which can also be achieved through basic muggle technology?
So much shit in Wizard World can just be reversed out. You can literally regrow your bones, ffs. The Big Three are politically problematic as much as they are ethically challenged. Mind Control spell created a serious problem of judicial inquiry, as any individual could plausibly claim “I was under the influence” when accused of a crime. Torture was a threat to the bureaucracy, as - similar to Mind Control - it compelled the release of classified information to outside parties. And the Murder Spell was a problem, I suspect, primarily because only Very Powerful Wizards could stick the landing. Weaker political figures didn’t want to get kicked off the ladder by some rogue asshole with magical muscles.
Why is a spell like “Sectum Sempra” considered acceptable
Its not. This is a spell that one wizard invented in his free time and virtually nobody else knows. Its not on the Big Three list by way of obscurity. Harry only avoids expulsion and a ticket to Azkabahan because his use of the spell is covered up.
A more intelligent author might have defined entire categories of spells as unforgiveable, like a wizard Geneva Convention, and would have probably included stuff like Horcruxes, necromancy, etc.
Sure. But its a children’s book not a legal text. She picks three narrative-significant spells and highlights them as Unforgiveable primarily in the negative. These are the three primary weapons of the Snake Eaters and so the liberal technocracy decided to explicitly ban their use in response to the uprising. Introducing them as “Unforgivable” gives her an opportunity to outline who used them, how they were used, and why they play such a significant role in the story.
Introducing a chapter on “The regulations and prohibitions with regard to alchemical transmutations” might make for some interesting Deep Lore, but won’t have any serious significance in a book about Wizard Middle School.
I can’t wait for JKR to get comfortable enough to explore the wizarding world in the antebellum south
I bet there’s some clumsily interpreted voodoo magic that is actually wielded better by modernized southern belles! :us-foreign-policy:
At least they don’t need to find a fancy reason for the robes and pointy hats
George RR Martin had a book about confederate vampires I think. Which honestly, vampires are an apt metaphor for slave owners.
Was it good? His capeshit, was well, shit. As expected. I’m not a ASOIAF defender, but he does have it in him to be talented once in a while.
His capeshit, was well, shit.
Wild Cards had an interesting premise, at least. The core premise - that superheroes are segregated by their physical appearance after they transform, and that this social pressure creates Hero/Villain cliques which reinforce the stereotypes - was a rife on the X-men universe that worked. But after that, his narratives are a little superficial.
Should be noted that GRRM has churned out nine new entries in the Wild Card series between 2011 and 2022. Dude continues to write prolifically. He’s just done with that GoT shit.
I assume there was a lot of “not condoning, but presenting with excessive repetitive emphasis :awooga: :libertarian-alert: :hypersus: for the usual historical accuracy in fantastical scenarios with an emphasis on sexual violence, gory torture, and feasts” in it. I don’t know, but it’s likely a safe guess.
GTA 5 had that segment where you tortured a guy based on zero evidence but at least that was supposed to be a satire of the kind of shit the government gets up to. (but it was still nonetheless very gratuitous and seemed to revel in the torture like a lot of these entertainments tend to do)
“I’m going death con 3 on the goblin people” - famous wizard bard kanyezius westminster
Historical Accuracy really needs to stop poking its nose where it doesn’t belong
It’s been the excuse for :us-foreign-policy: and :awooga: and :hypersus: and :libertarian-alert: whenever convenient and I’m tired of saying it’s not. :youre-awful:
Me trying to explain that the show with zombies and dragons and magic doesn’t need to have a graphic scene shot like a porno.
It doesn’t condone the sexual violence, it just shows it accurately with gratuitously presented objectification of the victim over and over and over and over again. Because nothing else happened of significance that could be emphasized in The War of the Roses But Now With Ice Zombies and Dragons. :so-true:
