LAURA JOHNSON
Assistant A&E Editor
Harry Potter dies. Just kidding. But for those of you who haven’t read the seventh Harry Potter novel I figure, if you haven’t read it by now, you probably won’t get around to it. So, really, it doesn’t matter so much if I ruin the ending or not.
However, a statement almost as shocking as this was uttered by J.K. Rowling herself last week in her only press conference during her U.S. book tour. She opened the closet door on one of the most beloved characters and said that “Dumbledore is gay.”
Whether this was uttered to simply further upset her unhappy band of evangelical Christian book burners or to just sell more books, the purpose in her doing so was unnecessary. The sexual preference of one of the best wizards to ever grace the magical world is of no matter to the plot of the story. Did anyone ever ask what/who did it for Merlin or Gandalf? No.
A controversial storyline since the books inception in 1997, some people find the topic of magic and spells morally and integrally wrong. However, themes of friendship and love and hope all mix into a melting cauldron of things usually noted as morally cultivating.
The year 2007 has been a big one for Harry — his 5th movie, so far the most well-made of the series, was released in early July and his seventh book, the final installment of his series, was published in late July.
This summer, I had extravagant plans for the release of the final novel — I would turn off my cell phone, curl up in sweats and get lost in the walls of Hogwarts for a few days only to emerge when finished. My friends informed me this was a very nerdy plan.
There is a secret sect of people here at Pepperdine. I think there are about five of us, but I don’t really know because it is just that secret. Our motto is “Yes, I’m 20ish and I still read Harry Potter.” I have been heavily ensconced in the lives of Harry, Ron and Hermione since I was in 7th grade. Why would I stop now?
Harry Potter is no longer just a book, he is a whole industry. Buying the rights to the series in 2001, Warner Brothers has made it their job to make sure Harry is more than just a simple fantasy novel for children.
One can buy “Bearnie Bots every flavor Bean” jelly bean candies, action figures of any kind, games, lightening scar tattoos and other odds and ends supposedly from the magical realm.
And now, expected to open in late 2009, H.P. will even have a theme park called “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter,” which will be an environment conjoined with Universal Orlando Resort. Guests will be able to romp and play in creations of Hogsmead village, the Forbidden Forrest and, yes, even Hogwarts school itself.
For any Potter pal, this place is truly a dream come true.
More dreams were made to come true when a group of children in L.A. were read to by J.K. Rowling two weeks ago in one of her only state-side appearances, The children were selected using a “sorting hat” process where there names were chosen randomly. No matter what, it seems that Harry is everywhere.
I’m just glad that it is finished. I know what happens in the end. I used to worry at night that Rowling would get zoomed-over by a double-decker bus and then the world would never know what happened. Thankfully, we can all rest easy now.
I am about to make a bold statement — I like Harry Potter. Even if he has gotten sold-out, in the end, it all comes down to spinning a good yarn, and no matter who ends up being gay, or how many H. Pott. costumes were bought for Halloween just yesterday, the books will live on as some of the most masterful works of the early twentieth century.
11-01-2007
