30 Day HP Meme, Day 28

[featherxquill]

28. Hogwarts subject you would most like to take

I am totally with others on my flist who have questioned where is the class on wizarding literature, and I also pose: where is magical art?. Those were my two favourite subjects at high school, and both would be amazing at Hogwarts, and neither of them exist. History of Magic? I think it would be wonderful, if it weren't taught by a dead guy (and don't get me started on how ridiculous I think it is that in a world where students are taught inaccurate histories by their bigoted families, the Headmaster of their educational institution thought it was perfectly fine for history to be taught by a dead teacher who couldn't listen to current debates and thought and teach his students about the historical context of certain beliefs). As much as I would probably love transfiguration because I'd have a mad crush on the teacher, I'm not sure I'd be any good at it. Ditto potions.

Actually, the subject I think I would enjoy most is Divination. Learning to create an astrological chart and read tarot cards, learning the theory behind divination techniques and the history of them (presumably they did do more than read tea leaves the whole time - I can't believe they would only do that). Sure, it might be a 'woolly discipline' according to Professor McGongall, but I differed in opinion with many of my more maths/science-minded teachers on the importance of absolutes (the answer is only a few numbers out! Close enough, dammit!) that I think I would really enjoy the possibilities of Divination and the different possible interpretations of charts/signs/patterns.

Seat me beside Parvati and Lavender and probably Luna. I'd enjoy the debates about what the swirling shape in the crystal meant. Probably I'd be rather enamoured of Professor Trelawney and her weird way of viewing the world, too.

Previous Answers


01. Discuss how you got into Harry Potter
02. Your favorite book
03. What house would you be in?
04. Your favorite movie
05. Wizard Rock: discuss
06. Your favorite character(s)
07. Song that reminds you of HP
08. Your favorite ship(s)
09. Fanfiction: discuss
10. Favorite book moment(s)
11. Character you're crushing on
12. Favorite movie scene
13. Least favorite character(s)
14. Moments in the books/movies that made you cry
15. Whatever tickles your fancy
16. How have you participated in the fandom over the years?
17. Your favorite celebs from the movies or fandom
18. If you could change one thing about canon, what would it be?
19. A favorite fanart
20. A favorite quote
21. How has the HP fandom connected you to other fandoms, interests, or people?
22. Your favorite villain
23. Share some HP icons
24. Rant about Steve Kloves something
25. Song that reminds you of HP
26. What aspect of the books has been best translated to film?
27. What aspect of the books has been most poorly translated to film?
28. Hogwarts subject you would most like to take
29. Favorite location
30. Whatever tickles your fancy

Comments

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

You'll find a paper on wizard literature here (http://therealsnape.livejournal.com/33969.html). I answered kellychambliss's question in a desperate procrastination moment.

And I think Dumbledore's hiring policy is erratic, at the least. Binns. Hagrid. Quirrell. Lockhart (although for DADA it may be a question of 'who can we get' rather than 'whom do we want', given the jinx thing).

[addyit.livejournal.com]

it feels strange to answer this, but i have to.

i've already got some RL experience in "divination", so i don't think i'd be interested in following it up. it isn't a comfortable subject. (they could use tarot cards, but you could also learn to read from a deck of ordinary cards, too.) there's working with scrying bowls, clouded globes... it all seems to be working yourself into a meditative state. i can do that driving (i often do- i have the strangest experiences of something close to "divination" while driving). to attain this, there would be herbs burning- i remember references to the sweet, suffocating aromatic herbs Trewlawney burnt regularly. this relates to the Oracle of Delphi, who inhaled toxic fumes (rising from the earth- probably sulphur-based) and chewed leaves (bay leaves amongst others- another symbolic herb) to induce a trance-like state, leading to visions. she was a representative of the god Apollo and widely revered. other Oracles came and went in all countries, at all times, but i think the Oracle at Delphi is the best known example.

for me? this is easy: charms.
i'd love the idea of being able to work this technical skill, which has such artistic flourish. Professor Flitwick seems to be such a poppet. <3 not to mention, Charms is the number one class for dueling.
wizarding history would probably be a close second beside Divination. wonderfully absorbing, but not terribly productive. if you can remember each one, there's no limit to what you could do.

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

I would admittedly be all over charms. If I could accio things, I'd probably never get up off my arse for something ever again. And there would be all sorts of things you could do. But I mentioned that in another meme answer that I made up on my 'whatever you want' day, so I thought I'd go for something a bit impractical for today's answer ;)

Actually, now that I think of it, I have to wonder if transfiguration might have as much to do with one's ability to visualise as much as understanding the physical characteristics of an object. After all, if you can't see a banana split bowl, you might end up with a furry hat (http://acciobrain.ligermagic.com/hpluciushat.jpg)

[therealsnape.livejournal.com]

The banana split bowl was glorious!

[impropaganda.livejournal.com]

and don't get me started on how ridiculous I think it is that in a world where students are taught inaccurate histories by their bigoted families, the Headmaster of their educational institution thought it was perfectly fine for history to be taught by a dead teacher who couldn't listen to current debates and thought and teach his students about the historical context of certain beliefs

Dude, Professor Binns is dead because JK Rowling thought "hey, history taught by a ghost, that's kinda funny" :P

[cranky--crocus.livejournal.com]

Awwwr, I loved this post. (: