Snapedom

A while ago I announced that janus and severed_lies would want to host the mothly challenges and the SNARC contest for a while. This is still planned, but we're not quite there yet. As you may remember, and as information for newcomers: if you have ideas about something you'd like to see here, weekly challenges, contests, games or the like... talk to me and most likely we can do it (if you are willing to do the work ;) ).

For now, we proceed as usual, with monthly challenges set by me. However, there is a change this year (will be in the rules as soon as I rework them). In the past, our changes were always, 'Severus and...' which is fine, but a bit restrictive. I think we can extend this to the wizarding world and anything that interests you, Snape fans, about magic and the wizarding world. Like for example the essay oryx_leucorix recently posted on her journal. If your essay still has a strong Snape element, even better, but it's not really necessary. This is not meant as competition for HP essays. It's meant as a semi-safe place for Snape fans to talk about everything in the Potterverse without having to worry about anti-Snape rants.

Please make your suggestions for future challenges on the suggestion post (link in the news blurb).

This topic was suggested by mary_j_59. She writes:

What convinces so many people that Snape is a bully by nature, and abusive? And why do people like me - who can see that he actually does bully, and is even abusive on a couple of occasions - insist that, nevertheless, Severus is far more victim than perpetrator, and is neither habitually abusive, nor an habitual bully?

That seems to be the real gulf between the Snape lovers and the Snape haters, and it's a sore point.

And it actually goes along with Snape as a father. I'm sure that those who see Snape as bully would insist that Snape would be an abusive father, whereas I and others see him as struggling to break the chain of abuse -and succeeding. Again, Rowling would like us to see Harry this way, but she never shows us Harry holding back, being sorry, reconsidering his actions - all of which she actually does show us in Severus. So I can't buy the "happy family/Harry as good father" picture she tries to sell us in the epilogue. I can, on the other hand, see Snape as a good father, perhaps most of all because he does have a conscience (however rudimentary - this sets him apart from just about everyone in the Wizarding World) and is not afraid to discipline the children in his care.

I would like to extend this topic to other fathers in the wizarding world. How about James? We know he was a bully, we are being told he was a good father. How do you see it?

How about Remus Lupin who ran away from his responsibility but later totally fell in love with his son?

And Arthur Weasley who is presented as the model father? Some call him hen-pecked, some Molly's eightst child. He certainly seems like the anti-bully. What do you think?

How about Lucius Malfoy? Would Sirius have been a good father or would he have lost interest when the child didn't turn out the way he wanted? Can you think of others? Go for it. As usual, you don't need to stop writing and discussing this as the month ends. You can always write about old challenges.

Marc Chagall must have been a wizard. And he knew people who could fly. Look at this and others of his famous paintings.

What I want you to do is what we did when this SNARC contest started: look at this picture and put Snape in it.

Traditionally, you can use ArtPad but any other media is fine, too. We even accept photomanips now!

The winners will be determined by number of comments (other than by the artist ;) ) to each entry. The prize would be a banner made by me unless someone more talented offers to do prize banners for SNARC?

For future challenges: If you would like to host one, or would like to offer a prize for one, contact me.

As usual, please make a new post with your entry, or post it in a comment here, if you don't have a ij account.

Onwards!