Why J K Rowling's Problematic Ideas Can't Hinder my Love of Harry Potter.
I am of the Harry Potter generation. I went through childhood with no computer at home through grade-school, no cell phone until I was 16 and didn't send a text until college. What I did have was harry potter, waiting, as they were written to find out what would happen to everyone favorite boy-wizard. Ill admit, I didn't run out to buy the first book right away. My neighbor lent it to me after she finished, and my crappy reading skills and far too young to read brother had my mother reading it to us each night.
By the time we finished the second book was about to hit stands. We were hooked and my mother promptly started reading that one too. Then the waiting. At this point Harry and I were about the same age. I could read them myself if I wanted, but I was still a slow reader and the thickness of those hardbacks intimidated me. My mother kept at it, she jokes now that shes one of the few to have read every word in the series out loud. Until the first movie premiered we called Hermione 'Hermi' in my house, having no clue how to say her name. I think even after we kept it up.
I remember riding out of the arena after a group lesson in high school and debating if harry could in fact be a horcrux before the final book released. We were unsure but worried for what it would mean. I did read that last book on my own, stealing it away between my mothers sessions with my brother- she was too slow at that point and I NEEDED to know what would happen, how it would end.
And that is why, those months spent waiting, the nights huddled on the couch listening— that no matter what problematic things J K says, she can't take Harry Potter from me. I will openly disagree with her, but she can't take away the enjoyment and treasured time spent with my family that Harry Potter provided.
I think that there are probably plenty of authors whose ideas don't follow to current standards, we just aren't looking very hard at them. I doubt there are many classic works whose authors worldviews would even be remotely acceptable these days. Its not to say 'that was a different time' or 'everyone has their opinion' but I think that we can, and should, be able to separate art from its creator. Do you agree?
By the time we finished the second book was about to hit stands. We were hooked and my mother promptly started reading that one too. Then the waiting. At this point Harry and I were about the same age. I could read them myself if I wanted, but I was still a slow reader and the thickness of those hardbacks intimidated me. My mother kept at it, she jokes now that shes one of the few to have read every word in the series out loud. Until the first movie premiered we called Hermione 'Hermi' in my house, having no clue how to say her name. I think even after we kept it up.
I remember riding out of the arena after a group lesson in high school and debating if harry could in fact be a horcrux before the final book released. We were unsure but worried for what it would mean. I did read that last book on my own, stealing it away between my mothers sessions with my brother- she was too slow at that point and I NEEDED to know what would happen, how it would end.
And that is why, those months spent waiting, the nights huddled on the couch listening— that no matter what problematic things J K says, she can't take Harry Potter from me. I will openly disagree with her, but she can't take away the enjoyment and treasured time spent with my family that Harry Potter provided.
I think that there are probably plenty of authors whose ideas don't follow to current standards, we just aren't looking very hard at them. I doubt there are many classic works whose authors worldviews would even be remotely acceptable these days. Its not to say 'that was a different time' or 'everyone has their opinion' but I think that we can, and should, be able to separate art from its creator. Do you agree?
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