The Golden Thread
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THE GOLDEN THREAD INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A Note From The Editor: New Year, New Home A Note from 1 the Editor Welcome to another Campus, where it started this, see pages 2, 4 and edition of the Golden out, but it is now residing 10. I hope you enjoy this Getting to 1 Thread. I hope you find on the top floor, in what edition of the Golden Know: Dr Louise something of interest will hopefully be its Thread, and don’t forget if Kennefick within. permanent lodgings. It’s there’s anything you’d like Transparency II Don’t forget that our worth taking the time to to comment on, see or Ireland: esteemed law department find out where your say in this newsletter, Maynooth has once again moved department is, and get contact the editor: Harry Potter III home, returning to New involved in what it does. [email protected] and the Truth House on the South For more information on in Fiction FLAC Society IV Maynooth Russian-Irish V Getting to know: Dr Louise Kennefick International Relations Unsecured Wi- VI Fi Issues What areas of law do and found it to be a If you didn’t work in you teach? dynamic and interesting law, what area would Criminal Law, Company area. However, if you work in? It’s a VII Law, the Law of Evidence pushed, I would have to Perhaps psychology – part Marathon, not a Sprint and the Law of the say the criminal law is my of my research looks at European Union. favourite as most of my the cross-over between Witness IX Protection: In research is based within mental health and crime. Need of If you had to pick only this area. Evidence is a (However, I hear it Reform? one of these, which close second because it is involves an inordinate Get Involved in X Your would it be, and why? so important to consider amount of statistics..!) Department All have their good points. the substantive and the The European Union procedural under the one If you could change the permeates every aspect of lens. colour of barristers’ XI law in this jurisdiction so robes, what colour We’re Not in Kansas Any uncovering its remit and What’s your favourite would you choose, and More, Toto its limitations can be thing about NUI why? compelling. I practised Maynooth? It’s compulsory footwear company law during my The wonderful students of you should be thinking Lucky Winner XII time as a solicitor in a course! about. Clown shoes, for corporate firm in the UK, (Continued on page 2) P A G E 2 Transparency Ireland: Maynooth "Every country needs a chapters and affiliates service for anyone facing strong chapter of worldwide. an ethical dilemma or Transparency Transparency considering reporting International" International Maynooth is wrongdoing at work. Jeffrey Sachs the first university Furthering this mission Transparency chapter of Transparency has led to the creation of Transparency International is the only International in the world Transparency International Ireland global organisation and is fully accredited by International Maynooth, (TI Ireland) is the Irish chapter of the dedicated to stopping Transparency which endeavours to worldwide corruption worldwide, International Ireland. emphasise the need in movement against corruption - defined working to create a "level TI Ireland’s mission is to Ireland for measures as the abuse of playing field" for citizens, empower people with the aimed at promoting entrusted power for private gain. Founded for business, for support they need to openness, fairness and in 2004, its vision is everyone. Transparency promote integrity and integrity in public office, an Ireland that is International carries its stop corruption in all its business and the non- open and fair – and where entrusted work out through its forms. As part of this profit sector in Ireland. TI power is used in the International Secretariat vision, in May 2011, TI Maynooth seeks to interest of everyone. based in Berlin and its Ireland launched promote student network of over 100 its 'Speak Up’ helpline, a (Continued on page 8) An Interview with Dr Kennefick Faced with our deep (Continued from page 1) will go on instinct – ‘R’ A fridge ... in a denim and meaningful example, would both has always been good to jacket. (That’s one for interview questions, confuse and terrify. me. the children of the 90s). Dr Kennefick threw us back some real curve-balls. If you were an What’s your least We would like to animal, what animal favourite day of the suggest clown shoes would you be, and week, and why? for all lecturers as a why? All the days of the week test initiative! If I were to pursue a have something nice to career in law as an offer. I couldn’t possibly animal, I would wish to offend one of them in be a cat - unassuming yet case they take revenge Friendly lecturer? Or all- inquisitive and good at (*sideways glance at powerful duck? pouncing. Ducks can Monday*). swim, walk and fly so they would come in a Would you rather be close second. too hot or too cold? Too cold. W h a t ’ s y o u r favourite letter, and If you had to choose why? between a fridge and I have never considered a freezer, which that question before so I would you pick? THE GOLDEN THREAD VO LUME III ISSUE I Harry Potter and the Truth in Fiction In 2007 J. K. Rowling, author of Professor Gendler's discussion of interpretation of fiction; she says the Harry Potter books, the philosophical arguments that readers presume that answered a question regarding about Rowling’s statement characters have five fingers, and the caused me to wonder what that the earth goes around the character Dumbledore by stating decision a court would make if it sun in the Harry Potter world. that she had “always thought of had to give a judgment as to She then looks for clues that Dumbledore as gay”. This whether the character would cause a reader to make an made instant news around the Dumbledore is gay. If for inference about Dumbledore’s world making it onto the pages instance another author created sexuality. This, Gendler says, is of Time, Newsweek and the New a character who was similar to not obvious to readers; the York Times, it was reported on Dumbledore and stated, as a author’s intention is the clearest CNN and on the BBC webpage. primary truth, to be gay, could indication. However, there are More recently, February 2011, it Rowling convince a court that disagreements as to how much was the topic of an article in The weight can be given to an Philosophers’ Magazine by Tamar author’s intentions as against a Szabo Gendler, professor of reader’s own response to a text. philosophy at Yale University In relation to genre constraints ( http:// she says that there could be an www.philosophypress.co.uk/? argument that his sexuality is p=1780). This article was on the irrelevant, and therefore there is topic of what philosophers call no right answer, as the books truth in fiction. The statement also are aimed at a children’s market, caused immediate reaction but there are also arguments among Potter fans who within against this view as other days posted thousands of characters in the books become comments on internet forums, involved in relationships. Gendler divided these into three categories; those who welcomed These arguments and methods it, those who were dismayed, Dumbledore was in truth gay and would all be likely to be raised in and those who challenged that she had been plagiarised? a court if such a case arose, and Rowling’s authority to add new would be familiar to the legal information to a finished series. Whether Dumbledore is gay, or profession. Textual evidence is It is this third category which is not, is not stated in any of the regularly used in courts and was addressed in the article, which Potter books, therefore it is a used in the Irish Courts to outlines the philosophical matter of secondary truth. The establish the existence, by arguments regarding the weight principal issue discussed by inference, of unenumerated that should be afforded to the Gendler is how to define what rights (rights not listed but author’s intentions when the secondary truths in any work implied by certain articles) interpreting a work of fiction, are and she offers four criteria to guaranteed by the Constitution. and what status implied truths consider: textual evidence, The arguments regarding reader hold. Gendler says that there are reader response, authorial intent response could be compared to two types of truths in a work of and genre constraints. Gendler those arguments forwarded by fiction, primary truths and scrutinised the texts of the theorists who claim that the secondary truths. Primary truths Potter books for evidence which Constitution is a living document are things which are stated in the could imply that Dumbledore is and should be read in relation to text; secondary truths are things gay and found quotes which changing social norms as which may be implied in the text would make it compatible with opposed to a strict textual or are compatible with it without the story. She then examined reading. Authorial intent could being strictly implied. how readers import knowledge be compared to the originalist of the real world into their (Continued on page 4) P A G E 4 Harry Potter and the Truth in Fiction (Continued from page 3) gay uncovered good of policy (politics) as on school of constitutional arguments for each side codes of law.