Convention Alley, the Harry Potter gathering due to be held in Ottawa, Ontario Canada in June of this year, has now announced their key note speakers. Speaking will be author John Granger, who will be presenting his piece “Unlocking Deathly Hallows: Five Keys for a Greater Appreciation of the Last Harry Potter Novel,” and Dr. Karen J. Kebarle on the topic of her forthcoming book “If Rowling says Dumbledore is Gay, is he Gay?” Registration for the event in Canada which will be held June 19-22 includes both keynote presentations as well the regularly scheduled programming and all meals. To find out more on Convention Alley, please click here.
I don’t think the topic of book “If Rowling says Dumbledore is Gay, is he Gay?” relates much to the issue of homosexuality, but more to the issue of how canon are the facts that Rowling reveals that are not in the books and if how people decide to take them, accept them or not. I could be wrong though. I wish I could go to one of those conventions, they all look so interesting!
Oh boy. Can’t people get over it ? Who cares if he’s gay, straight or bi ? He’s one of the best role models in literature, grow up.
I’ve just seen that it’s a forthcoming book ? What ?! A book on whether Dumbledore’s gay ? Gosh I think we’ve crossed a line here. Can’t believe people still talk about it.
And the answer’s yes, it’s her book, nobody has ever questioned anything else she’s said on interviews : why not make a book about whether or not Bill and Fleur’s children are really named like that ? Geez. What Jo told us gives us a better understanding of how horrible it must have been to confront Grindelwald and as far as I’m concerned that’s the extent of it.
As Isabel said, I think Dr. Kebarle’s discussion on the canonicity of Dumbledore’s sexuality has less to do with the controversy around the revelation and more on whether or not its being only defined and clarified outside of the books imposes it on the books. Should fans accept it as something as credible as Dumbledore’s death at the hands of Snape, or should they be allowed to take their own interpretation that may deviate from that of the author? It is an interesting issue, and one in which the fandom continues to debate.
Personally, I think Dumbledore is gay, as it was rather, well, blatant in the seventh installment in the manner in which his relationship with Grindelwald was described. However, I support the right of fans to say that the word of J.K. Rowling isn’t binding in itself, as it was outside of the canon (for now).
How much do we learn about Dumbledore in the 7 books and thousands of pages of information . . . and people are still hung up on one statement describing back story. Methinks it speaks volumes . . .
Exactly Rococofied, I agree with you completely. I also forgot to add, the title “If Rowling says Dumbledore is Gay, is he Gay?” is probably used to grab the attention of the people attending the convention, since whether people think it matters or not, Dumbledore benig gay, it’s still a controversial issue.
Sorry, i should have elaborated on my statement. I understand perfectly that Dr. Kebarle’s discussion most likely will be on how the canon is related to Jo’s word outside the canon. I believe that is an issue anyway, whether accept it as canon or not.
I have to say, it sounds fascinating. A friend and I often discuss this issue, and it would be neat to here Dr. Kebarle’s ideas.
I personally think that Dumbledore might be gay, but I had had ideas for a while. It’s just part of who he is, and I think that he is a great character, who happens to be gay, not a gay character.
I have to say, that if you get a chance to hear John Granger speak, take it. He is very interesting; a fantastic speaker! I’ve seen him speak twice, at a local Presbyterian church. He talks about Religion in the books, symbology, “literary alchemy” .... lots of stuff. A friend and I had the privelege of being sent an early copy of his FAQ for an updated version of his “Looking for God in HP” (includes book 7), and it was great. He is a great speaker. if your going, make sure to make time for this. And tell him that Beth and Karen from Paoli Pres said HI! LOL!
When it was in the news that Rowling said what she said about Dumbledore’s sexuality, the gay-straight part wasn’t what interested me. The thing that interested me is exactly the same issue that Kebarle will probably be discussing: does an author have more authority than a reader after a book has been published? Does she automatically win every argument over interpretations of the book? Because you have to remember we’re dealing with two different things:
1) What the author has going on in her head, which is her sole property, and
2) What the author has published, which is the property of each and every reader (she’s been compensated pretty fairly)
If she leaves it open for interpretation that Dumbledore is straight, and that’s the interpretation you come away with, she can’t come along and tell you after the fact that he’s gay. Her authority ends when she decides that the final draft is complete and she sends it to the printer. Anything she left ambiguous is ambiguous forever and it belongs to us to make our own decisions. If you want to imagine Harry went on to become a professional Quidditch player, you can go right ahead. Don’t let information on the author’s website or in any of her interviews get in the way. That stuff is hers. The books belong to us.
well said, reader. I don’t want an author of any book telling me how to interpret a story that isn’t clearly written down. I find Rowling all too often tries to stiffle the creative imagination of her readers.
hmm… funny… I feel exactly the opposite. Whatever the author says, for me, is cannon. Its her story, her characters, her world (the same goes for any authors), so she gets to determine the course of it. We are, of course, free to use our imagination, but what’s in our heads is “AU”. LOL… that’s what fanfiction is for. ;-)
What do y’all think about her Scottish Book? What about the stuff that she puts there, that’s not in the book (ie: Deans background, DD being gay)? Does that affect how you feel about it?
The only JK canon that I rejected was probably a trivial one. Its the future of Luna and Neville. I like to imagine that after DH, they sealed it together. I think it was a combination of the Film OOTP and DH book that drove my shipping desire for those two. So I was disappointed that Neville married a bar lady who hardly featured in the book and Luna not finding love until several years later with some unknown. Luna’s love for her friends was so strong that she had them painted on her bedroom wall. Neville and Luna lead the DA in Harry’s absence and the 2 of them took the brunt of punishment, defiantly defending other students during the military style running of Hogwarths. I felt this would have drawn them closer together as they shared this heroic sacrifice. I am hoping the DH film will actually show this with Jo’s blessing as the film makers did give a very subtle vibe of a possible future special relationship between Neville/Luna (Neville, at one time taking Luna by the hand whlle running from danger, and vice versa)
But otherwise, I love the rest of the canon that Jo offered us so far.
I’m with you Beth A, I see it as entirely the author’s work. Besides Jo gives us canon details but leaves the interpretation of themes and underlying ideas entirely to us, hence why there are so many speakers and commentors on the novels at these conventions
the homosexual issue again….........i wish i can go anyway….