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Last week, we blogged about J.K. Rowling’s outing of the wizard Dumbledore as gay (the blog posting was turned into a short piece for WORLD). This isn’t really news anymore, but I did want to point out the Times story that seemed to echo WORLD’s own idea:
[Ms. Rowling] may be mistaken about her own character. She may have invented Hogwarts and all the wizards within it, she may have created the most influential fantasy books since J. R. R. Tolkien, and she may have woven her spell over thousands of pages and seven novels, but there seems to be no compelling reason within the books for her after-the-fact assertion. Of course it would not be inconsistent for Dumbledore to be gay, but the books’ accounts certainly don’t make it necessary. The question is distracting, which is why it never really emerges in the books themselves. Ms. Rowling may think of Dumbledore as gay, but there is no reason why anyone else should.
It’s terrific to see the lack of gay-baiting and grandstanding on this issues in the press.
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Topic: WorldMagBlog |  |
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Keywords: complete stupidity, culture, fiction, Harry Potter, homosexuality, JK Rowling, literature |  |
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Who cares?
What Bob said.
Rowling seems to have played into the thinking of the world on this issue.
This whole debate makes me sad. The very way in which conversation about sexuality has been framed since the sexual revolution of the sixties, has warped the way we think about it. It’s fundamentally changed the language, and there’s not a whole lot we can do about it. Meanwhile men and boys cannot be intimate friends without being suspected of being gay. It’s wounded men, and our sons, and robbed us of the very thing that would help us to grow, and aid us in our trials and maturity….
Good article in Touchstone:
http://touchstonemag.com/archives/article.php?id=18-07-021-f
Oh… I should explain. This debate has robbed men of deep and abiding friendship with other men.
The title of the article is A Requiem for Friendship.
Rowling’s move certainly gave ammunition to those conservative Christian parents who won’t allow their children to reach her books or watch her movies.
Even before the announcement, I wouldn’t read the books unless I read them to learn how to oppose their wickedness, much like I would read the Koran.
Every tree is known by its fruit. A good tree bears good fruit, and a bad tree bears bad fruit.
MIM:
Great article. It really gives us something to think about. I think the truth is, it is not only men who have been robbed by this. In the late eighties and early nineties, my daughter lived in China and worked there for eight years. (No sexual revolution happened there.) When we went over to visit her, we saw many women holding hands as they walked down the street. My husband asked our daughter if they were lesbians. She explained that Chinese women tend to have very close and intense friendships. She told us that her one close Chinese woman friend always slept in her bed, and our daughter in hers, when they visited each other. She said they would cuddle together and have long talks. It was totally unerotic, but quite emotionally fulfilling and comforting. Many of these women have grown up sleeping in the same bed with a sister or two, or even a cousin or an aunt. It is seen as totally normal.
Some men’s neurotic homophobia has robbed them of deep and abiding friendship with other men.
Fixed that for you, Make it Man.
A brief blog post on the subject:
“So Then, Dumbledore Is Gay, They Say” by Doug Wilson
Torquil,
I meant what I said. No need to “fix” it for me. Did you read the linked article?
At Borowitz dotcom comedian Andy Borowitz remarked that the President was introducing a bill to ban gay marriage among fictional characters. LOL as they say
I dropped the article after the bit about Shakespeare not being a “homosexual.” Of course Shakespeare wasn’t a homosexual. He lived centuries before the term was invented and didn’t share our c20 notions of sexuality as identity. But that doesn’t mean he was heterosexual, either, or that he wasn’t erotically fascinated by penises (it doesn’t take a very deep reading of Sonnet 20 to see that he was).
So yes, men used to be able to write poems about their male friends’ genitals without being called “gay.” So what?
Oh,
So you read the first five paragraphs, and didn’t really understand what the author said in the next 8 pages? And now you want to have a relevant dialogue about it?
Here’s a quote that should prove interesting:
Back then being called “gay” meant being “happy,” Torquil.
Not anymore.
I wonder why Harrison thought it necessary to bring this up again? Of all the things happening in the world, this doesn’t even rate a -5. He’s posted 3 “gay” threads today so far. Is WorldMag going for “red meat” to bring up the numbers on here? It’s starting to look that way to me.
It would appear so, Anlir. Abortion and homosexuality 24/7, with the odd scrap of evolution fear mongering tossed to tie us over.
If you don’t like the topics on this blog, Anlir and Hamachi, I suggest you find a different blog more suited to your politics.
Good one, Outkast!
It’s our blog too.
…switching “Ignore List” to: On Off
Heh! That’ll fix ‘em
Oh, I had missed that button. Thanks, Anlir. Got it now.
You are welcome to visit and post and contribute, Hamachi, but it is not YOUR blog. You (fortunately) don’t make the rules.
Anlir,
what is your next cool idea for our blog? You’ve been doing a great job of coming up with fresh content for everyone. The Rants and Raves is another great contribution to the community. Thanks for that one. What are you working on now–if it isn’t a secret, of course…
I was sad to hear the Rowling outed Dumbledore as gay. I just thought he was a wise, ancient wizard who loved everybody he wasn’t putting a spell on. I never even thought about his sexual preference. She must have taken all the fun out of wondering for those who did
I still don’t get why someone would even think about what Dumbledore’s sexual preference was. If it was important to the story I figured that Rowling would have made it a point to point it out in the story. This is why I think she is … errrr… fibbing about it now.
Depends on your taste in fantasy.
Hamachi,
I’m working on some “top secret” stuff at the moment, which will be revealed in good time. I’m always thinking ahead, trying to come up with new ideas for this blog. My best ideas come to me when I’m watching “South Park” or “The Colbert Report”.
I’m also working on the First Annual “Wabbys”, which I will hand out at the end of the year, or shortly thereafter. The winners get a *digital* Golden Carrot (24K no less!). If you have any nominees, I’ll gladly take them into consideration. I’m still working on the categories.
Excellent, Anlir! I’ll have to give the Wabby nominees some thought. Any guidelines? It’s people like you and Random who make our blog a great little corner to hang out.