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The Book Covers and the Movies (Original Post) brettdale Jun 2016 OP
context? edhopper Jun 2016 #1
J K Rowling brettdale Jun 2016 #3
It's not just the covers. Rowling called her white. Dr. Strange Jun 2016 #4
If the character's race played into the plot it would be an issue ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2016 #5
I think it wouldve brettdale Jun 2016 #6
"neither read the book or saw the movies" KamaAina Jun 2016 #11
Yeah, it's not my thing ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2016 #16
You will be. It's not my genre, either. HuckleB Jun 2016 #20
The context is that the story addresses bigotry, clear as day. HuckleB Jun 2016 #12
I guess I don't understand the OP anyway. ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jun 2016 #17
I think the OP is saying that criticism of Hermione being cast as black is not racist. HuckleB Jun 2016 #19
It doesn't seem weird to me that she'd forget that. kentauros Jun 2016 #7
Don't make excuses for her! Dr. Strange Jun 2016 #9
Who's the kid on the right, with the flat-top? kentauros Jun 2016 #10
Dean Thomas Dr. Strange Jun 2016 #15
Okay, thanks. kentauros Jun 2016 #18
The thing that gets me, though, is that anyone who reads the books knows... HuckleB Jun 2016 #21
Context! It's not just for breakfast anymore. FSogol Jun 2016 #2
Denzel and Will Smith edhopper Jun 2016 #8
Pretty much Johonny Jun 2016 #13
Uh, what? HuckleB Jun 2016 #14

brettdale

(12,332 posts)
3. J K Rowling
Sun Jun 5, 2016, 11:38 PM
Jun 2016

Has called people Racist who have criticized the choice of a Black actress to play
Hermione in the stage play of Harry Potter, stating in the books her race was never mention.

In two of the Original book covers though, Hermione is white.

Thats the point people were making.

Along with, if Hermione had of been black all along it gave new meaning when
Draco use to call her "An inpure mud blood"

Dr. Strange

(25,898 posts)
4. It's not just the covers. Rowling called her white.
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 12:10 AM
Jun 2016

From Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban:




Not that I have a problem with directors taking different directions. But it seems weird that Rowling has forgotten how she wrote the character.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
5. If the character's race played into the plot it would be an issue
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 12:46 AM
Jun 2016

I don't think it ever did in HP (neither read the book or saw the movies) so there is no issue.

brettdale

(12,332 posts)
6. I think it wouldve
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 01:12 AM
Jun 2016

Draco was the whitest kid ever seen in the movies.

His family owned a slave. (dobby)

Too have that kid giving the black kid a hard time, would've had an uneasy feel to it.

ProudToBeBlueInRhody

(16,399 posts)
16. Yeah, it's not my thing
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:39 PM
Jun 2016

People have told me if you read a few chapters you'll be hooked, so I'm not gonna do it!

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
20. You will be. It's not my genre, either.
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:48 PM
Jun 2016

Still, I waited to read it until I had a kid with whom to read it. And, yeah, it grabs you. She knows how to write, and keep you hooked.

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
12. The context is that the story addresses bigotry, clear as day.
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:20 PM
Jun 2016

Which is why I find this OP to be rather odd.

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
7. It doesn't seem weird to me that she'd forget that.
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 01:22 AM
Jun 2016

Consider just how much she's written. Unless you have an eidetic memory, many details are lost the more you write. I'm often kind of surprised at some of the things I've written because I'd forgotten all about that passage or bit of dialogue.

Also, as a writer, you tend to have in your head what your characters look like. If she had Hermione visualized in a way that was open to any skin color, it's still easy to see her forgetting she had written in such a thing at some minor point in the story.

She's written how many books? An average book length is 100,000 words, and her books are known to be longer than that. So, she's probably written at least a million words in the Harry Potter universe. How is one supposed to remember all of that?

Dr. Strange

(25,898 posts)
9. Don't make excuses for her!
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 12:23 PM
Jun 2016

You think J. A. Konrath forgets what he writes? No way--he remembers EVERY word. I expect nothing less from any author!

As a side note: it's not just words. Apparently Rowling even did her own drawing of the gang:

kentauros

(29,414 posts)
18. Okay, thanks.
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:42 PM
Jun 2016

Still, people expect writers to remember every single detail they've ever written or imagined, including that sketch. I've drawn a fair amount of stuff, too, but I don't remember it all, especially something done fifteen years ago.

I'd say this is simply a case of over-zealous fans expecting their favorite writer to be just as over-zealous about their fantasy universe. Why do I get the impression that's going to lead to Misery?

HuckleB

(35,773 posts)
21. The thing that gets me, though, is that anyone who reads the books knows...
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:50 PM
Jun 2016

... that it's an obvious tale about fighting bigotry, so how does this become "an issue?"

edhopper

(33,212 posts)
8. Denzel and Will Smith
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 09:06 AM
Jun 2016

play characters that were originally white.

The reactions to this play look pretty racist to me.

I agree with Rowling. It's her fucking books. If she has no problem...

Johonny

(20,684 posts)
13. Pretty much
Mon Jun 6, 2016, 04:27 PM
Jun 2016

Books are books, movies are movies, and plays are plays. What works in one may not in another. A good actor doing Shakespeare does not detract from the play because their race does not match the race "intended" for the role.

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