JK Rowling reveals Hogwarts secret

[Umbran]

To the contrary, he is an exemplar of what a gay person can be as an instructor, mentor, and wizard.

I disagree. As it stands in the text, he is an exemplar of what a person can be, without reference to sexuality. That's kind of my point - reading the text, there is no allusion to his sexuality, so that isn't part of the character displayed to us. Rowling could just as plausibly said he was hetero, or just not interested in sex and romance.

If the only way to know about it is to step outside the text, then he can't be an exemplar of the type.

 

[Atavar]

I'm not bothered by it at all, but it occurs to me that all the fundamentalist fervor against the books will ratchet up again on this news. Not that it takes too much to get that going.

Please be careful about the "no religion and politics" rules here....

Later,

Atavar

 

[Mark]

Rowling could just as plausibly said he was hetero, or just not interested in sex and romance.

And *that* is actually the point.

 

[Mark]

(. . .) and its really difficult for parents to tell theri children why.

They can add it to "the talk."

 

[Holy Bovine]

That is unprovable one way or the other if Rowling ever made a writing desision based on Albus's preferences. But I'm going to bet Family Guy will find a way to use this for humor in a Herbert skit.

That would be a change. Humor in a Herbet skit that is....

 

[apoptosis]

And *that* is actually the point.

But why say that he is hetero if he isn't. Why not say he is what she developed him to be (in her notes or mind or whatever)

I dont think Dumbledore was a gay role model or such as he for all intents to the story pretty asexual.

But writers all the time have more depth in the story than is what is given in the text. People ask writers about characters beyond the stated text all the time, she just answered it based on how she developed the character.

I do believe though (gut feeling no proof, could easily be wrong) that she probably wanted to drop a bombshell (well more a small firecracker) and had been waiting to do so.

 

[DonTadow]

But why say that he is hetero if he isn't. Why not say he is what she developed him to be (in her notes or mind or whatever)

I dont think Dumbledore was a gay role model or such as he for all intents to the story pretty asexual.

But writers all the time have more depth in the story than is what is given in the text. People ask writers about characters beyond the stated text all the time, she just answered it based on how she developed the character.

I do believe though (gut feeling no proof, could easily be wrong) that she probably wanted to drop a bombshell (well more a small firecracker) and had been waiting to do so.

This all points to evidence of Rowlings the thief hack writer. If you wantedthisto be a "bombshell" yet none of your fans even saw a hint that it existed then you are a poor writer or you've proved your critics right that your books are mostly publicity and this is a deseprate attempt at it.

 

[Obrysii]

This all points to evidence of Rowlings the thief hack writer.

In her defense, she did manage to write 4200 pages of fiction in a fairly short period of time, and she did manage to make them enjoyable enough for readers of all age to read.

I'd say she most certainly is not a hack. I've always figured that those that accuse her of such are merely jealous of her. It's not easy to go from being a nobody to being among the richest authors in history. And it's not easy to produce seven books, totally 4,200 pages (if going by hard cover), in as short of time as she did. Sure, she's no Tolkien, but to call her a hack is rather wrong.

 

[Mark Chance]

In her defense, she did manage to write 4200 pages of fiction in a fairly short period of time....

McDonald's manages to crank out lots of hamburgers in a fairly short period of time as well. That don't make Big Macs haute cuisine.

 

[apoptosis]

This all points to evidence of Rowlings the thief hack writer. If you wanted thisto be a "bombshell" yet none of your fans even saw a hint that it existed then you are a poor writer or you've proved your critics right that your books are mostly publicity and this is a desperate attempt at it.

While i think her writing is probably pretty good for a young audience, I would definitely say I don't consider her writing to be great by any stretch of the imagination.

My guess is that she didn't want to portray Dumbledore as gay in any way, as that would have cause too many issues and it was just something she came up with behind the scenes.