DIVINATION CLUB: Term XXI, Activity 7: Cold Readings vs The Noble Art of Divination

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

Every year, this squabble seems to happen. Somebody throws a tantrum, fed up of not being able to see anything, or seeing shapes in tea-leaves only to be shot down for saying something. The whole class pipes up about how it's a waste of time, until somebody points out what has correctly been predicted over the course of the year. It seems Trelawney has a special way of dealing with this: she opens a fresh pack of greenish joss sticks and lights them; the thick mossy smoke makes everybody go mellow and thick-headed, and she smiles at the renewed optimism.

Activity: Cold Readings vs The Noble Art of Divination
Points: Long debate: Participation 10pts, Additional comment: 2pts.
Deadline: 20th December @ 11:59PM UTC.
Details: Do you believe there is a difference between the Divination presented in the HP series, and those techniques applied by Muggles in the real world? Could you or I walk into a class and be on equal footing with those at Hogwarts? Do Wizarding folk simply have greater sensitivity to the paranormal workings of the universe? Debate and discuss.


Okay! Seeing as people seemed to enjoy the Hogsmeade debate, we're going to have another one (before I forget). So here's the point of discussion:

Is wizarding Divination any different from Muggle fortune telling?

Note that this question is NOT asking if you think Muggle fortune telling is a sham or not: that's a completely different issue. If possible, let's try to keep things on track!

I would like you to consider whether there's any real differences between our brand of fortune telling, and the one depicted in the books. Do you think a Muggle could teach the kids as well as Trelawney? Did the predictions that came true in the novels happen because of Divination's magic, or was it just dumb, serendipitous luck? Are both types just cold readings manifested in different ways? Feel free to cite things from canon as much as from your own point of view!

A substantial opening comment is worth 10 points. Follow-on elaborated responses are worth 2 points each, so long as they're a bit more meaty than "I agree/disagree". Cap of 30 points total.

Make Hermione proud, guys! Or Trelawney. Or Firenze. Whichever.


_{The future will look bleak if you forget to sign the ROSTER}

Comments

[capeofstorm.livejournal.com]

I definitely agree that divination requires a gift for it and that a gifted Muggle would be just as successful as a gifted wizard/witch. And I agree that students should be introduced to different kinds of fortune telling/divination. It seems that having two Divination teachers at Hogwarts should be something usual. For example Trelawney could teach those with gift while Firezne instead took those without the gift and taught them reading cards/runes/planets.

Lena/Gryffindor/1

[capeofstorm.livejournal.com]

Well, Trelawney sure thinks she could teach them. I think my way of thinking here was more along the lines that truly gifted students happened very rarely so there wouldn't be that much need for Trelawney teaching anyone. If a gifted student did happen to walk into her class, I believe that they would be able to work on their gift on their own or maybe they'd have some help from others.

This way, the majority of students, would be able to learn some basic fortune telling without weekly death predictions.

Lena | Gryffindor | 5

[narianha.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I agree that Trelawney should be the one teaching the theory and practicals. She definitely understood all the practical aspects, and it seemed like she studied them to try to augment her own unreliable gifts.

Rita//Slytherin//6