Liking J.K., not liking J.K.

[h2so3f]

No: HPFGUIDX 154831

Katie wrote:
"I have met quite a few people who say they "don't like" J.K. 
Rowling, but they love Harry. First of all, I find it strange to not 
at least admire and respect the person who created a character you 
love. If you love Harry, how can you claim to dislike the person 
that created him? "


CH3ed:
Hi. I don't know J.K. Rowling, but from all I've heard of her I 
think she is cool and I definitely like her works. As to the 
question of how one can love an artist's work without loving (or 
even liking) the artist, that really isn't self contradictory. I 
love Wagner's opera (even when they are 4+ hrs long), but wouldn't 
want to be in the same room with that man (a pro-Nazi anti Jew bigot 
who was really lacking in the moral department). The work and the 
man aren't the same thing. 

That extends even in other area beside the arts. Sir Isaac Newton 
was not a nice man (which is quite an understatement), but there is 
no questioning his scientific genius. There are lots of star 
athletes who are wonderful at what they do in their sport, and a 
total jerk off the field. I think it is wise to not judge people 
solely by what they do well. That way we'd be a lot less prone to 
being disappointed that our 'idols' aren't supermen/superwomen 
outside of their profession. 

I'd say that applies to Harry and Co. in the series as well. It does 
seem that a lot of us hold them to quite an impossible standard 
(even in real life). Even the most well behaved kids in my high 
school years weren't perfectly thoughtful and mindful of the 
consequences of all of their actions (and nobody should expect them 
to be). 

CH3ed :O)  
PS: Happy 4th of July to our American numbers!