matsu

Too much science fiction will mess up your mind

I declare my mind officially messed up. Nothing new, for those who know me. I just came home from watching the latest Harry Potter movie. And for the fourth time in a row (since the first one), I couldn’t help myself perceiving everything on the screen as science fiction, instead of fantasy. I’m wrong of course, the wikipedia article does explain that it’s fantasy, right on the first paragraph. Nowhere science fiction is mentioned.

Nevertheless, the co-existence of the muggle world with the magical one reminds me of the co-existence of the physical world with the virtual one. Or semi-virtual. Or any of the thousands of variations explored in science fiction literature. And aren’t spells and wands a so-very-elegant UI? And what about the countless spirits, manifestations, monsters, et cetera being perceived as self-replicating quasi-sentient virtual/software/wetware? Not forgetting the constant hacking always going on, of everyone casting spells on everyone and everything not protected. And the firewalls, with real fire! I could go on, and on, and on, ad nauseam.

I haven’t read any of the Harry Potter books, so this perception is perhaps influenced by the pretty neat eye-candy in the movies. Or my mind is definitelly messed up. You decide.