Dumbledore kerfluffle
Oct. 25th, 2007 05:06 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessDumbledore’s gay. It amuses me muchly, especially since I imagine there are many ultra-religious righties who were already burning the books for witchcraft have now just spontaneously combusted with outrage (and that’s always funny, you have to agree).
Is it a big step forward for gays everywhere? Well, millions of people are apparently reading books with a central gay character, but wouldn’t know about it unless the hear of Rowling’s revelation. Still, it’s a lot of exposure there. Personally, I think it can only be a good thing and certainly does no harm :) When it comes down to it, it's a character. he happens to be gay, there's no need to read anything more into it than that
People have bitched about why he didn’t reveal this in the books. Well, let’s take a step back and look at the books shall we. They’re about Harry Potter (hence the titles) a boy from the age of, what, 10-18? And his battle against Voldemort. The books are written nearly entirely from Harry’s point of view to my memory, less than, what, 5% of the book isn’t from his view point and they usually involve death eaters.
Right, now remember when you were between the ages of 11-18 and your relationship with your teachers. At which point did your headmaster avow his love for cock or pussy to you? What? You mean you headmaster didn’t discuss his love life with you? Damn, how heartless!
I didn’t know if any of my teachers were gay, straight, bi, single, coupled or in happy polygamous groups. The only clue I ever had was some of the women had “mrs” in front of the names. I didn’t even know the first names of some of my teachers. They could have been gay. They could have been straight. They could have been bi. They could have been sexing up their neighbour’s Rotweiler. I don’t think I’m unusual on that score, teachers are usually rather reticent in discussing their sex lives with their pupils, well, except for in one or two rather sensational cases.
So at which point in teaching Harry, advising Harry, guiding Harry and otherwise fighting the evil of Voldemort should Dumbledore have turned round and said “Did I ever mention how much I love hawt mansex?” At which exact point in the books would it have been appropriate, believable or realistic for Albus Dumbledore to explain his sexuality to his student?
(And to everyone saying she just added this after the series finished... well, point 1: You did read Deathly Hollows, right? Because, y'know Dumbledore/Grindelwald? Written in pretty LARGE print, really. Point 2: she said she had to tell a screenwriter that when he had dumbledore mention a past female love - don't you think he'd come forwards and sday "bitch please, that never happened?")
ETA:
Oh and can we have a big WTF to all those who are saying this is some kind of political statement? Hello, various studies have concluded that homosexuals make up between 3%-10% of the population (depending on study - the closet makes it hide to track us) yet the mere EXISTANCE of a gay character is a political statement? That's ridiculous! That's like saying the ethnic diversity shown throughout the Harry Potter novels was a political statement. Acknowledging people exist isn't political correctness or agenda driven or any other stupid clap trap they're spouting. It's simpel acknowledgement of the diversity of the human race.
Is it a big step forward for gays everywhere? Well, millions of people are apparently reading books with a central gay character, but wouldn’t know about it unless the hear of Rowling’s revelation. Still, it’s a lot of exposure there. Personally, I think it can only be a good thing and certainly does no harm :) When it comes down to it, it's a character. he happens to be gay, there's no need to read anything more into it than that
People have bitched about why he didn’t reveal this in the books. Well, let’s take a step back and look at the books shall we. They’re about Harry Potter (hence the titles) a boy from the age of, what, 10-18? And his battle against Voldemort. The books are written nearly entirely from Harry’s point of view to my memory, less than, what, 5% of the book isn’t from his view point and they usually involve death eaters.
Right, now remember when you were between the ages of 11-18 and your relationship with your teachers. At which point did your headmaster avow his love for cock or pussy to you? What? You mean you headmaster didn’t discuss his love life with you? Damn, how heartless!
I didn’t know if any of my teachers were gay, straight, bi, single, coupled or in happy polygamous groups. The only clue I ever had was some of the women had “mrs” in front of the names. I didn’t even know the first names of some of my teachers. They could have been gay. They could have been straight. They could have been bi. They could have been sexing up their neighbour’s Rotweiler. I don’t think I’m unusual on that score, teachers are usually rather reticent in discussing their sex lives with their pupils, well, except for in one or two rather sensational cases.
So at which point in teaching Harry, advising Harry, guiding Harry and otherwise fighting the evil of Voldemort should Dumbledore have turned round and said “Did I ever mention how much I love hawt mansex?” At which exact point in the books would it have been appropriate, believable or realistic for Albus Dumbledore to explain his sexuality to his student?
(And to everyone saying she just added this after the series finished... well, point 1: You did read Deathly Hollows, right? Because, y'know Dumbledore/Grindelwald? Written in pretty LARGE print, really. Point 2: she said she had to tell a screenwriter that when he had dumbledore mention a past female love - don't you think he'd come forwards and sday "bitch please, that never happened?")
ETA:
Oh and can we have a big WTF to all those who are saying this is some kind of political statement? Hello, various studies have concluded that homosexuals make up between 3%-10% of the population (depending on study - the closet makes it hide to track us) yet the mere EXISTANCE of a gay character is a political statement? That's ridiculous! That's like saying the ethnic diversity shown throughout the Harry Potter novels was a political statement. Acknowledging people exist isn't political correctness or agenda driven or any other stupid clap trap they're spouting. It's simpel acknowledgement of the diversity of the human race.
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-25 04:54 pm (UTC)Good grief.
I totally agree with you. At that age, the sexuality of one's teachers hardly crosses one's mind. Nor do you really want it to, in all honesty.
And if I were a teacher, I certainly wouldn't care to discuss my sex life with my students. It's inappropriate, none of their business, and just plain wrong.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-26 01:13 pm (UTC)Exactly, teachers don't have sex. Ever. That would be WRONG. I mean some of them are like, so OOOOLD and it'd be NASTY.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-26 01:37 pm (UTC)Unfortunately we also have a habit of sexualizing pretty much anything... Which is why we have Mrs. Robinsons, and fantasies involving our teachers, and even teachers who mistake their boundaries and either seduce or delude themselves into being seduced by their students.
The army has a problem in training (basic training at least) where Drill Seargents get in trouble with the seduce/be seduces bit with trainees.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-26 08:53 pm (UTC)Of course teenaged hormones aren't entirely sensible. This is why authority figures also have a duty of responsibility
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-27 02:13 pm (UTC)Kids having crushes on their teachers is inevitable psychologically, and it should definitely be part of teacher training to make sure that, as authority figures, they realize this and learn how to deal with it. Easiest way is to never acknowledge it and never allow a situation to arise where they try and actually tell you how they are feeling as it concerns you, the teacher.
I wonder what it is that makes kids turn their attention toward teachers in that manner? To sexualize an authority figure that is usually considered sexless by most has to have some sort of reason.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-27 11:15 pm (UTC)I don't CARE. the pupil is young, naieve, hormonal, confused and the teacher is in an inherent position of authority and power over them. The pupil isn't thinking ramifications and consequences! As the grown up sensible authority figure it is THEIR job to slam on the breaks and not whine that the kid didn't.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-27 02:15 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-27 11:12 pm (UTC)I think most of the time we tend put teachers in the same "neuter" box as parents. Sex and teachers don't mix, they don't share the same headspace. In the same way we all kinda believe our parents are virgins even if we KNOW they're not because parents and sex just DON'T share the same box. EVER!
Of course, if a teacher - because they're attractive or young or friendly or for whatever hormone crazed reason - steps out of the box then suddenly you've got an older, wiser, authority figure who pays attention to you and looks hot and sophisticated (and not pimply, voice cracking, clumsy and angst ridden)...