The Lionising, the Wizard and the Closet

[desperance]

Hmph. So Rowling says Dumbledore is gay. After all the books and all the reviews are written, after all the fuss is over, she trots this out.

Two things. If this is the case, it really shouldn't need saying, surely? It should have become evident, it should be at least inherent if not explicit somewhere in that vasty text. If it's not there to be read or interpreted, then it's not material and it really doesn't need saying. It either matters, or it doesn't; if it matters it needs to be there, and if it doesn't matter then who needs to know? Etc. That old phrase "show, don't tell" comes bubbling to mind; if she has to out him after the series is finished, then she hasn't done it right.

Also, I'm unimpressed by her choosing to do it now, at this cold dead end of all the hoo-ha. While the books were still happening, it might have been significant, even if only of a creative failure; now it feels both morbidly cautious and somewhat cynical, as though a final poke at the cooling ashes might ignite just a little more media glow.

Comments

[szandara.livejournal.com]

This was exactly my reaction. Dumbledore's sexuality was never an important issue in the books; it wasn't relevant to his role as head of Hogwarts, or as Harry's mentor, or anything else. Bringing it up now seems pointless, and it plays into the school of thought that defines people (and characters) by their sexual preferences and forces any analysis of their words and actions to revolve around who they want to sleep with.

Sexuality is only one aspect of who we are, and not neccessarily the most important one. I wish popular culture would figure this out.