JK Rowling speaks at Harvard Commencement

[pclstyle]

If you can't sit through the video, read the transcript below it. Worthwhile, I promise.

http://harvardmagazine.com/go/jkrowling.html


Added:
Cliffs of a sort- an interesting read as well.
"You know what they say ? the freshman bring so much, and the seniors take away so little."
Rowling's Harvard Speech Doesn't Entrance All

 

[spittledip]

what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

 

[magomago]

that was good...nice

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

writing hardly matters these days. as long as the story or whatever is entertaining is much more important

 

[ChaoZ]

Originally posted by: slayer202

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

writing hardly matters these days. as long as the story or whatever is entertaining is much more important

Isn't that the whole point of books?

 

[magomago]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

I dunno. Never read anything she ever wrote.

Being reactionary isn't a good way to convince people you know. I suggest a less...assy method.

One thing I will give her is that she persevered with her problems...and that makes her not a failure in my book

 

[pclstyle]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

They're under "Children's Books". I don't consider Dr. Seuss to be 'refined literature', but I'd say he was a genius at what he did. She represents herself as inspiring to imagine, the first steps from blind infancy to awareness and eventual maturity. No one's saying you need to enjoy the books, but to discount her work as "bad writing" simply because it doesn't suit your own tastes - seems kind of ignorant.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

I dunno. Never read anything she ever wrote.

Being reactionary isn't a good way to convince people you know. I suggest a less...assy method.

One thing I will give her is that she persevered with her problems...and that makes her not a failure in my book

this is an internet forum... who cares???

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: pclstyle

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: magomago

Originally posted by: spittledip
what a joke.

In my mind she is still a failure with that crap she puts out. Making money does not make you a success.. it just makes you rich

What makes her a failure? I'll bite.

I am being reactionary. She isn't a failure, but she certainly isn't a good writer. I just hate that her incredibly poor writing is passed off as good literature.

They're under "Children's Books". I don't consider Dr. Seuss to be 'refined literature', but I'd say he was a genius at what he did. She represents herself as inspiring to imagine, the first steps from blind infancy to awareness and eventual maturity. No one's saying you need to enjoy the books, but to discount her work as "bad writing" simply because it doesn't suit your own tastes - seems kind of ignorant.

She writes mind candy. Kids might as well watch TV. Has nothing to do with "my tastes."

 

[ScottyB]

"I think we could have done better," shrugged computer science major Kevin Bombino. He says Rowling lacks the gravitas a Harvard commencement speaker should have.
"You know, we're Harvard. We're like the most prominent national institution. And I think we should be entitled to ? we should be able to get anyone. And in my opinion, we're settling here. "
"It's definitely the 'A' list, and I wouldn't ever associate J.K. Rowling with the people on that list," says senior Andy Vaz. "From the moment we walk through the gates of Harvard Yard, they constantly emphasize that we are the leaders of tomorrow. They should have picked a leader to speak at commencement. Not a children's writer. What does that say to the class of 2008? Are we the joke class?"

Joke class? Maybe not. Douche bags? Certainly.

 

[Saint Michael]

Originally posted by: spittledip
She writes mind candy. Kids might as well watch TV. Has nothing to do with "my tastes."

So... let's see your reading list for children.

 

[biggestmuff]

She may write 'children's books', but I'll bet a considering percentage of ATOT has read that drivel.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
"I think we could have done better," shrugged computer science major Kevin Bombino. He says Rowling lacks the gravitas a Harvard commencement speaker should have.
"You know, we're Harvard. We're like the most prominent national institution. And I think we should be entitled to ? we should be able to get anyone. And in my opinion, we're settling here. "
"It's definitely the 'A' list, and I wouldn't ever associate J.K. Rowling with the people on that list," says senior Andy Vaz. "From the moment we walk through the gates of Harvard Yard, they constantly emphasize that we are the leaders of tomorrow. They should have picked a leader to speak at commencement. Not a children's writer. What does that say to the class of 2008? Are we the joke class?"

Joke class? Maybe not. Douche bags? Certainly.

No, they are absolutely right. It was inappropriate for her to be the speaker at Harvard, or any other university for that matter. I don't understand why they chose her to speak there. It's like asking Milli Vanilli, the Backstreet Boys or David Hasselhoff to speak at a commencement. She represents the dumb luck that gets pop culture icons their fame and fortune. There are a thousand other writers out there as good or better, she just happened to get lucky. For a commencement, you need something more than a "got-lucky" pop culture peddler.

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: Saint Michael

Originally posted by: spittledip
She writes mind candy. Kids might as well watch TV. Has nothing to do with "my tastes."

So... let's see your reading list for children.

Jack London and Kipling immediately come to mind.

 

[Saint Michael]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: Saint Michael

Originally posted by: spittledip
She writes mind candy. Kids might as well watch TV. Has nothing to do with "my tastes."

So... let's see your reading list for children.

Jack London and Kipling immediately come to mind.

So that's it? After they're done reading Jack London and Kipling they're finished?

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
"I think we could have done better," shrugged computer science major Kevin Bombino. He says Rowling lacks the gravitas a Harvard commencement speaker should have.
"You know, we're Harvard. We're like the most prominent national institution. And I think we should be entitled to ? we should be able to get anyone. And in my opinion, we're settling here. "
"It's definitely the 'A' list, and I wouldn't ever associate J.K. Rowling with the people on that list," says senior Andy Vaz. "From the moment we walk through the gates of Harvard Yard, they constantly emphasize that we are the leaders of tomorrow. They should have picked a leader to speak at commencement. Not a children's writer. What does that say to the class of 2008? Are we the joke class?"

Joke class? Maybe not. Douche bags? Certainly.

Maybe Harvard trying to say that they are all still children and it's comments like those prove it.

 

[LordSnailz]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: ScottyB
"I think we could have done better," shrugged computer science major Kevin Bombino. He says Rowling lacks the gravitas a Harvard commencement speaker should have.
"You know, we're Harvard. We're like the most prominent national institution. And I think we should be entitled to ? we should be able to get anyone. And in my opinion, we're settling here. "
"It's definitely the 'A' list, and I wouldn't ever associate J.K. Rowling with the people on that list," says senior Andy Vaz. "From the moment we walk through the gates of Harvard Yard, they constantly emphasize that we are the leaders of tomorrow. They should have picked a leader to speak at commencement. Not a children's writer. What does that say to the class of 2008? Are we the joke class?"

Joke class? Maybe not. Douche bags? Certainly.

No, they are absolutely right. It was inappropriate for her to be the speaker at Harvard, or any other university for that matter. I don't understand why they chose her to speak there. It's like asking Milli Vanilli, the Backstreet Boys or David Hasselhoff to speak at a commencement. She represents the dumb luck that gets pop culture icons their fame and fortune. There are a thousand other writers out there as good or better, she just happened to get lucky. For a commencement, you need something more than a "got-lucky" pop culture peddler.

I dunno if you can claim her success was due to luck ... what about Gates, did he get lucky? Or what about Jobs or the guys at Google? Or what about Oprah, she's speaking at Stanford's commencement this year, did she a pop culture icon that got her fame and fortune from dumb luck?

To me dumb luck is winning the lottery, but these people including Rowling did not become successful just because they got lucky.