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catandgirlcomic · 3 months

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History's revenge.

#cartoons #comics #technological progress #technological progress for rich people

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catofadifferentcolor · 1 year

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Terrible Fic Ideas #13: Harry Potter, but make it Tudor

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm fascinated by domestic history. It's part of why I tend to rewatch Victorian Farm, Tudor Monastery Farm, and the like at least once a year, and why I'm currently reading Judith Flanders' brilliant Inside the Victorian Home.

All of which, naturally, made me wonder: what if the wizarding world really was that backwards? Or more accurately: what if the wizarding world doesn't just look backwards? What if almost everything about it failed to move past, say, the year 1500?

Bear with me:

If you go back and read the accounts of just what it took to maintain a household even as late as 1899, it quickly becomes very clear that magic in place of a small army of servants and/or farm laborers is not only exceptionally efficient, it is possibly the only way to maintain the level of aspiration the guidebooks of the time suggest.

Contrariwise, there is very little that modern technology can do re: housekeeping and/or farm labor can do that magic can do substantially better. (For one example, any muggle has the means to handle any vermin problem that may occur in their home, whereas pre-1900 magic might be the only way to not have a vermin problem.)

Ergo, given the separation between wizards and muggles, its not inconceivable for wizards to believe they truly have it better - and, indeed, are better, because they don't spend half their life living in their own filth &c.

So just imagine what an HP that followed this logic might be like:

Much of the early years at Hogwarts are spent teaching children household and/or farming charms - things students would really have needed to survive even 100 years ago - or things that help build up skills needed to do household charms. As a consequence, the average Third Year student knows spells to black a stove, separate coals from cinders, chop vegetables, keep knives sharp, do the washing, and keep soot and ash in the chimney, but knows very little of magical theory, or indeed how to do much of anything with magic that can't be done as quickly and just as well with modern technology.

In fact, in this universe Third Year is when OWLs are held and is school leaving age for most. After all, only those with means have use for the magical theory and advanced studies that come after, much as how a very small percentage attended university in the Middle Ages.

As a result, most muggleborns and muggle-raised witches and wizards leave Hogwarts after Third Year and return to the muggle world. There's just nothing in it for them, and with how insular everything is only a handful ever realize there's more to magic than enchanting your brooms to sweep themselves. This does not help the opinion most purebloods have of muggles or muggleborns.

I really don't have much, or anything, of a plot beyond this. Mostly I just want to see an HP that, for all anyone in it is concerned, hasn't moved beyond the early Tudor period.

Perhaps that's all the plot would be: Harry reconciling himself to this strange new old world he's found himself in, wherein no one has ever heard of the Church of England (wizards practice a curious syncretism of Catholicism and Celtic paganism, complete with monasteries and the wheel of the year) and still think plagues strike the muggle world with considerable regularity. The Hogwarts Express remains a painful bone of contention between traditionalists and modernists, with most on both sides absolutely certain it's only magic keeping the muggle invention traveling faster than 20 mph and not exploding at any given moment.

In this world, Hermione and her ilk try to explain that the muggle world has advanced - you don't need spells to keep the heat from the fireplaces circulating throughout the room, central heating is a thing; I can just buy my own cheese, I've never seen a cow in my life; &c - but they are very firmly shot down each time, with some professors going so far as to give them detention for telling tales. Only the most stubborn stay even through Third Year to get to the good stuff.

Harry's not overly fond of more cleaning either, but it's better than the Dursleys, and admittedly with his rich Potter background he's shunted into some of the more interesting classes as well - the ones purebloods with house elves to do the cleaning get to take.

The only reason Weasleys do all seven years is because Mrs Weasley has aspirations for her children, even if they rarely follow it.

Voldemort in this universe is a little less I hate muggles than he is I hate that muggles have advanced beyond what magic can do, and therefore I fear them, though he plays into the first to get followers. There're no Horcruxes, just a Voldemort that advocates complete separation of wizarding and muggle, with muggleborns not being allowed to return to their parents after discovering magic - indeed, being taken away from their parents and raised by wizards after the first expression of accidental magic. He also advocates magical research that will keep wizards ahead of the muggles, which his opponents consider Dark or unnecessary or both.

Dumbledore in this universe is the mirror of Voldemort - he too sees that the muggles are clearly outpacing wizards, but his way of handling this is to make the wizarding world seem unthreatening to muggles. He wants to adapt on the surface - Yule to Christmas - and bide their time until the muggles are no longer a threat, either from successful reintegration or superior magics or the inevitable muggle plague that regresses their society. (In his world, there is no doubt wizards will come out ahead, because they've been at this for millennia whereas muggles only just figured out how not to live in their own filth. The average wizard is superior to the average muggle in every way, &c.)

...Okay, I guess there is some plot, but only in as much as failure to notably advance changes the shape of Voldemort's goals.

Bonuses include: 1) coming to terms with Tudor/Victorian clothing, most notably Hermione ranting at how is she supposed to do anything in a thousand skirts, corset, and heels? to which an adult or older student replies, why would a witch need to do anything? Possibly with the addition of physical exertion is dangerous for young women. 2) Harry taking the top of the class in household charms. 3) Ron letting slip that they learn things like magical theory in upper years after Hermione gets frustrated at it's lack, and instead of SPEW Hermione tries to advocate for teaching anything but household magic before most muggleborns drop out. (Nearly everyone in power thinks she's acting above her station, and what kind of witch fails to realize that household spells are the most useful and important magic separating them from muggles anyway?)

That's really all I have - an HP with a culture that's not so much evolved separately as stalled out of lack of need to evolve, and a plotless exploration of those cultural differences. Or maybe a plot concerned with now that we're faced with the need to evolve, how do we do it?

As always, if anyone choses to adopt, please let me know.

More Terrible Fic Ideas

#plot bunny #harry potter #fic ideas #hp #hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry #wizarding world #wizarding society #tudor history #alternate universe #society and culture #hermione granger #ron weasley #albus dumbledore #voldemort #tom riddle #technological advancements #technological progress

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aifyit · 1 year

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The DARK SIDE of AI : Can we trust Self-Driving Cars?

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Self-driving cars have been hailed as the future of transportation, promising safer roads and more efficient travel. They use artificial intelligence (AI) to navigate roads and make decisions on behalf of the driver, leading many to believe that they will revolutionize the way we commute. However, as with any technology, there is a dark side to AI-powered self-driving cars that must be…

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postersbykeith · 9 months

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#quotes #Aldous Huxley #technological progress #more efficient means #going backwards

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blueheartbooks · 3 months

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Unraveling the Fabric of Time: A Journey through H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine: An Invention"

H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine: An Invention" catapults readers into the fascinating realm of speculative fiction, offering a gripping narrative that transcends the boundaries of time and imagination. Originally published in 1895, this novella has solidified its place as a classic work of science fiction, exploring profound themes and propelling readers through the cosmic corridors of time.

At its core, "The Time Machine" is a tale of scientific curiosity and its consequences. The protagonist, known simply as the Time Traveller, constructs a machine that enables him to traverse the temporal landscape. His first-person narrative unfolds as a dinner party yarn, where he recounts his astonishing adventures to a group of skeptical friends. Wells masterfully employs the frame narrative, immersing readers in the suspense of the Time Traveller's extraordinary tale.

One of the novella's strengths lies in its imaginative world-building. Wells introduces the reader to the distant future, a world divided into two distinct races—the Eloi and the Morlocks. The Eloi, frail and childlike, inhabit a utopian surface world, while the subterranean Morlocks, eerie and industrious, lurk in the shadows. This stark dichotomy serves as a social commentary on class division and the potential consequences of unchecked technological progress. The novella acts as a cautionary tale, urging readers to contemplate the long-term implications of societal choices.

Wells' writing style is both engaging and thought-provoking. The vivid descriptions of the futuristic landscapes and the Time Traveller's encounters with strange beings evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity. The author skillfully weaves scientific concepts into the narrative, challenging readers to grapple with complex ideas surrounding time, relativity, and the consequences of scientific advancement.

Beyond its scientific and social commentary, "The Time Machine" delves into the existential and philosophical dimensions of time travel. The Time Traveller's experiences prompt profound reflections on the nature of existence, mortality, and the inexorable march of time. Wells invites readers to contemplate the fragility of human civilization and the transient nature of life itself.

The novella's enduring appeal lies in its ability to resonate with readers across generations. Its exploration of time as a narrative device and its examination of societal structures and human nature continue to captivate audiences. Wells' legacy as a pioneer of science fiction is cemented by "The Time Machine," a timeless work that invites readers to contemplate the mysteries of the universe and the consequences of tampering with the fabric of time.

In conclusion, "The Time Machine: An Invention" is a literary gem that transcends the boundaries of its era, offering a timeless exploration of scientific, social, and existential themes. H.G. Wells' narrative prowess and imaginative vision make this novella an essential read for those eager to embark on a thought-provoking journey through the corridors of time.

H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine: An Invention" is available in Amazon in paperback 10.99$ and hardcover 18.99$ editions.

Number of pages: 129

Language: English

Rating: 8/10

Link of the book!

Review By: King's Cat

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blueheartbookclub · 3 months

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Unraveling the Fabric of Time: A Journey through H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine: An Invention"