Rowling's control

[Jim Ferer]

No: HPFGUIDX 180368

susanmcgee48176: "I am of the opinion that Ms. Rowling's statements in
interviews  are "canon" in the same way the books are canon."

Pippin Fowler: "Don't we have a List Elves' definition of 'canon'
somewhere, for purposes of discussion and message format? I've been
proceeding with the idea that 'canon' equals the text of the 7 books
only, yet I continue to see digressions from that."

The HPFGU definition always included quotes from JKR along with the
text, but excluded anything else, particularly including the movies
once they came along.  It could be time to reexamine that, because the
series is now complete. Then, we were all looking for any kind of clue
to what was going to happen in the next book, and obviously any hint
JKR dropped was going to be turned inside out.

susanmcgee48176: "I find it terribly upsetting to hear her [JKR]
attacked and her  character and intentions defamed. I don't think she
is a  perfect individual (who is?) but I admire her for her writings,
 her viewpoints, her family life, and her philanthropic work.  It's
amazing and great that she is giving so much money to  charity, and
working to promote so much charitable giving."

Pippin Fowler: "I am in this minority with you. It is a great literary
accomplishment from start to finish, and I believe JKR maintained a
high degree of personal and professional integrity in a very hype-
happy environment."

Here's three of us. These books are amazingly rich in character and
theme, a great achievement. What bothers me is how severe and
personalized criticism of JKR is for what are actually unimportant
flaws. Partly I think it's a trend in society of tearing down
("debunking") people who actually accomplish something, done by people
who couldn't approach their target's accomplishment. "Lose all
respect" for a philanthropist and humanitarian who is also the author
of the largest phenomenon in the history of publishing? I'm just glad
nobody's discussing the flaws in *my* life here.

The flaws and inconsistencies in the canon, of which there are plenty,
could be discussed on their own merits anywhere; there's no question
of anyone's right to point them out or to complain that JKR has been
too didactic in interviews lately. (personally, I think she'll calm
down after this high wears off) It's the hysteria of it that turns me off.

susanmcgee48176: "Third, (and I am obviously NOT in the majority
HERE), I think  it's great that Professor Dumbledore is gay."

Pippin Fowler: "I wish it had been in canon explicitly, but I believe
JKR had rich layers of background on all of her major characters from
the start, and that being gay was part of Dumbledore from the start.
--"but you cannot deny he's got style" said Phineas Nigellus. It could
have been in canon explicitly, in scenes of Dumbledore's youth, and
the omission saddens me."

JKR avoided sexuality beyond making out, and there's only one or two
places, both in DH, where Dumbledore's gayness would have had any
relevance. I remember thinking when I heard Dumbledore was gay that
his sexuality wasn't a big part of his personality; his life was more
about his intellect than anything else. That one time in his life was
the only exception we know.

The final testimony to this story is this: how many other stories have
been worth this much discussion? Every one of JKR's detractors
repudiate themselves every time they take a shot at her.

Jim Ferer