Are JKR's interviews canon?

[juli17 at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 122148

Alla said:

> And yes, I consider JKR's interviews to be canon.
> 
> 
> Just my opinion,
> 
> Alla

Julie says:

When JKR gives us a very specific fact, such as "Voldemort is not 
the half-blood prince" then I do consider that fact canon. When she 
speaks more generally about motivations, relationships, character
traits, etc, then I don't consider those kinds of statements canon
in the same exact sense.

For instance, JKR says "Snape is a deeply horrible person" (which
is why he's fun to write). If you try to take this literally, then Snape
is horrible to the core, i.e., evil, so why even bother trying to figure
out the complexity of Snape's character when JKR's already told
us that there isn't any complexity. He's "deeply horrible." Period.
(Rather, I think she's emphasizing a part of him--the behavior
part as a teacher--than saying he's horrible through and through).

Or when JKR responds to the question "Is Snape going to fall
in love?" with "Who on earth would want Snape in love with 
them? That's a very bad idea." If you try and interpret this very
literally, it would seem to indicate Snape hasn't or can't fall in
love with someone. Yet the question is "Is Snape GOING to 
fall in love?" not "Has Snape EVER fallen in love?" And 
bad idea or not, JKR didn't really answer the question, did 
she? In fact, she followed it up with "..whoever asked that
question, I'm slightly stunned that you said that, and you'll
find out why I'm so stunned if you read book 7." Which seems
to actually indicate that Snape HAS fallen in love...

I'm in danger of going off on a tangent, but hopefully you see 
what I mean. If JKR makes a factual "The sky over Hogwarts
is blue" statement, I consider that canon. But statements 
that can be open to a variety of interpretations (no doubt 
purposely so on her part!), are something different. 

Julie  


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