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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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I imagine she'll finish the darned thing eventually. It will probably be a thousand pages and make a hefty thud when it falls off the table.
I think Harry finds that Voldemort is his evil twin, but falls in love with him and they shag each other sensless. "Shagiamus!!"
Ron gets seduced by Neville, which is a total surprise to both of them, since each thought they were being seduced by Hermione. Such is magic.
[Updated on: Wed, 15 November 2006 22:35]
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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There are only a certain number of things that can happen in the final book that haven't happened already. My guess would be: Harry tracks down Voldemort; Voldemort and Harry have a duel; Voldemort is destroyed; important character number 23 (or maybe, this time, number 7) dies; Harry saves his friends' lives; Harry couples with Ginny; Ron couples with Hermione; they all ride off together into the sunset.
The last couple of books have been "more of the same", but I don't think Ms. Rowling will get away with it this time, at least not without disappointing hundreds of millions of fans, unless she pulls an extremely original rabbit out of her hat.
Incidentally, gay characters do seem to be pretty under-represented in Harry Potter. Maybe if we all collectively write to Rowling she will drop a few hints in the final book. I doubt it, though. I expect that there are no such characters because it would upset her American readers. Possibly it has simply not occurred to her.
David
[Updated on: Thu, 16 November 2006 00:24]
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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Even now how many kids are willing to come out to their entire High School. There are gay kids at Hogwarts, but Harry just doesn't know about it.
I suspect Colin Creevey is gay. I used to behave the same way when I had crushes. But as much as I wish Harry and Draco were an item, I doubt it
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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ProfZodiac
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Likes it here |
Location: United States
Registered: August 2006
Messages: 115
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Ironically enough, the same people who would be truly upset with the presence of a gay character in Harry Potter are the ones who won't read it anyway because it "encourages devil worship."
I want to see her do it anyway, just to read the headlines in the tabloid papers. My money would be on Seamus. Or Malfoy - it'd explain his pettiness; it's a distraction from the real conflict in his life.
(I do enjoy Harry Potter slash fanfiction from time to time. Though much of it is poorly-written, it's my guilty pleasure. One of them.)
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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:-[ You're not the only one.
I was heavily involved with a Harry Potter fan RPG community a couple of years back. There isn't really anything in cannon that would suggest Seamus is gay. Colin's adoration of Harry is about as close as any character gets, in my opinion. Or maybe Malfoy has a crush on Harry, which is why he picks on him. I sometimes used to pick on guys I had crushes on before I realised I was gay. Malfoy doesn't have the guts to be as evil as he wants to be, though.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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Rowling has said that the "real" Malfoy (not the movie representation -- unfortunately people tend to confuse them) is a thoroughly nasty piece of work. I think it would be a very bad move of her to make the one "representative" character an evil one; worse than not having any gay characters at all, in fact.
I have seen suggestions by other people that Remus Lupin would be a good candidate to be gay (well, apart from the rather awkward idea that his "hidden" personality -- as a werewolf -- is highly dangerous and infective). But I think that he and Tonks are probably intended to become an item. Unless he dies, that is.
David
[Updated on: Thu, 16 November 2006 10:13]
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I have nothing to contribute to this thread. But it seems to me that any author whose work permits so many informed and intelligent people to relate to the story line and the characters in the way that posters have in this thread must be a very good author indeed.
J F R
The paradox has often been noted that the United States, founded in secularism, is now the most religiose country in Christendom, while England, with an established church headed by its constitutional monarch, is among the least. (Richard Dawkins, 2006)
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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I am reasonably sure that if the characters of the Potter books were old fat men casting about they would have slid by fairly unnoticed here.
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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How about Dwarves and Hobbits and Wizards and "stuff"?
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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... does anyone else agree that the young cast is pretty unattractive? To be honest, I have to say that -- on a purely aesthetic and platonic level -- I think Emma Watson is probably the best-looking, and she's a gurl.
I might like them more if they were good actors, but Daniel Radcliffe sends shivers of horror up and down my spine.
David
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It doesn't matter if there are no attractive characters in a story: fantasy appeals on a more basic level, to one's boyhood self, I suppose.
The reason so many adults (most of them straight) like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings is that it's a socially acceptable way to "regress" to a world where things are simple: good is good, bad is bad, and magic exists.
There's not much sexuality in either story.
David
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Actors? Even the grownups seemto have stopped acting! But surely that is down to the direction?
I quite like Daniel, shirtless.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Daniel Radcliffe sends shivers through me too, but that has nothing to with horror.
Hugs
Nigel
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Does this help answer the question?
Hugs
Nigel
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Attachment: hp_dm.jpg
(Size: 26.90KB, Downloaded 339 times)
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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You're right that some directors can get good performances out of mediocre actors. But some actors are bad however hard you push them. There have been three Harry Potter directors now, and Radcliffe's not been terribly good in any of the films, so I'd be inclined to blame him rather than them.
The adults are lacklustre, but on the whole, I think, competent. The problem with elevating an 11 year-old to the status of star actor is that, at 11, he was just about passable because you don't find many mature 11 year-old actors. But now Radcliffe is older (17, no less) he doesn't seem to have got any better. If they didn't have continuity and marketing to deal with, I doubt he'd be re-cast. You can find much better 17 year-old actors.
There were rumours when they were in pre-production on the first one that Steven Spielberg wanted Haley Joel Osment to play Harry Potter. I would have been interested to see how that turned out -- at least Haley Joel can act. There might have been a problem over the accent, of course.
David
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Hmm. He's all right, I suppose. However, I find bad acting a huge turn-off. On the other hand, I find good acting very attractive, even if the actor's pretty ordinary-looking.
Not sure if that's a good thing or not. A good quality for a director, I suppose. (Maybe not a Hollywood director, though.) I very rarely watch films for the eye-candy, usually only for the quality of the performances, or sometimes for the idea if it's high concept.
David
[Updated on: Thu, 16 November 2006 12:49]
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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But even the adults, real actors, serious luvvies, are poor. This set of films seems to bring out the medioce in every last cast member.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Hmm. It could be something to do with the producers rather than the directors. These are constant and, in a franchise like Harry Potter, have ultimate power over creative decisions rather than the director. The emphasis is certainly more on special effects than good, naturalistic performances.
I still maintain that Radcliffe is not a very good actor. Admittedly I have not seen him in anything outside Harry Potter except Extras, where he was unremarkable.
David
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marc
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Needs to get a life! |
Registered: March 2003
Messages: 4729
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How often was the LOTR brought up here before it hit the screen with Elijah Wood?
Err.... none....
Life is great for me... Most of the time... But then I meet people online... Very few are real friends... Many say they are but know nothing of what it means... Some say they are, but are so shallow...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Nasty hobbitses
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Actually, I can't imagine why I didn't mention the real ending, which is: J.K. Rowling sells hundreds of millions of copies, makes a vast quantity of money, and lives happily ever after. The end.
David
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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I know he is meant to be more evil, and definitely not as "pretty" as the movies make out. But still, he doesn't have the guts to be truly evil. He hesitated in the most recent book and someone else had to do the job he was assigned. I don't really see Lumus being gay (especially not after that awful movie representation, I'd be ashamed). Snape? Maybe. But I think the most likely candidates would be characters we haven't met yet.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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saben
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On fire! |
Registered: May 2003
Messages: 1537
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I read the first 4 books before the first movie came out. I used to have a bit of a crush on Harry and Malfoy (only when they were in character, never cared much for the actors themselves). But that was when I was 16. Now I just read for the story and watch to see how good the movie adaptations are.
I first read Lord of the Rings in grade 8 and haven't cared to read it since. Though I saw the movies in the meantime and obviously discussion turned towards the series then. I don't find any of the cast of LotR very attractive.
Look at this tree. I cannot make it blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time [...] No matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach.
Master Oogway
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no this one!
So say what you want
(You know I'm wasting all my time)
You've gotta mean it when you say what you want
(You're only safe when you're alone)
And everybody's on your mind
Saying anything to get you by
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Malfoy's not really evil, yet. But certainly extraordinarily unpleasant, and lined up for evil unless he is pretty thoroughly redeemed in the final book. He is certainly indirectly responsible for Dumbledore's death if not directly. Snape -- well, the jury's still out on whether he's good or bad. But he's certainly not nice, and if he is gay, I don't actually want to know.
To be honest, I think it's unlikely that Rowling will introduce any new major characters. To introduce a gay minor character for just one book, unless done very skilfully, would seem out of place, considering that the Harry Potter universe doesn't exactly go out of its way to cater to minorities. Such a character would inevitably be seen as a "token gay person", and I doubt Rowling would want that.
David
[Updated on: Fri, 17 November 2006 10:39]
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There's something very slick and actually rather spooky about that picture. Even though it's not an animation, I think it probably qualifies for falling into the Uncanny Valley.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny_Valley
I'm also really put off by the expressions on their faces. They do not look happy.
Interesting use of shallow depth of field, though I'm not entirely convinced by it.
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Ok, I feel unwell, now!
Malfoy is not cute just because he had blond hair. He's very nasty, and has a perpetual sneer on his face, which is not a handsome one.
Harry was never meant to be good looking either. He was meant to be a pretty ordinary kid, really.
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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I cannot get over how seriously this thread has been taken.
I like it as speculation or a spoof, but it is no more than that, including the pictures.
One or two of the characters appear a bit fem, but that does not make them gay.
And what interest would Rowling have in introducing a gay character? A lesbian would be more likely, but not much.
Hugs
Nigel
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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Don't be mad, cuz you could not find any pictures to share. 
So say what you want
(You know I'm wasting all my time)
You've gotta mean it when you say what you want
(You're only safe when you're alone)
And everybody's on your mind
Saying anything to get you by
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Moi? I'm not mad - at least not in the sense of angry. Just amazed.
Hugs
Nigel
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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It is possible to treat a light subject with serious levity. In other words, treat it as worthy of consideration even if it's tongue-in-cheek or ultimately not very important. People like discussing things here. I am surprised that you are amazed.
David
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It's because, in the consciousness of most young readers (and especially girls) Draco Malfoy and Tom Felton are one and the same. I personally have no trouble keeping them separate. Felton is only an actor. I don't find him very attractive, to be honest, either.
David
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Well I hoped for some endings!
I've looked at pics of Radcliffe (pleasant face, not special) and Felton (well, not pleasant at all) and really can't see why they would be anyone's fantasy, especially together!
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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Teenage girls work in mysterious ways...
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timmy
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Has no life at all |
Location: UK, in Devon
Registered: February 2003
Messages: 13796
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Now I feel unwell!
I know how girls work. It really isn't to my taste!
Author of Queer Me! Halfway Between Flying and Crying - the true story of life for a gay boy in the Swinging Sixties in a British all male Public School
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which is serious levity.
Hugs
N
PS: serious levity is my business - I'm professionally jealous.
I dream of boys with big bulges in their trousers,
Never of girls with big bulges in their blouses.
…and look forward to meeting you in Cóito.
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