BBC Sherlock Fan Forum - Serving Sherlockians since February 2012 / Queerbaiting and Harry Potter

**Posted by Vhanja** August 16, 2016 4:38 pm

I am not sure if this really warrant a thread of it's own, but I had no idea where I could put this...

Have you guys read Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Because interestingly enough, JKR has been critizied by several for queerbaiting in that book/play. Or maybe not her, but the two guys who wrote it with her (we don't really know who wrote what; I think).

I don't really know what to think myself as I think it's a difficult topic. Just wondered if anyone here had read it and what you think?

**Posted by tonnaree** August 16, 2016 5:05 pm

I have read it and enjoyed it very much.
Although I totally understand why the two main character's are easily shippable, I myself don't feel that there was any queerbaiting.

**Posted by Vhanja** August 16, 2016 5:09 pm

I am a HUGE HP fan, my first and biggest fangirling, I think. I have a lot of thoughts on this book, so perhaps I should've changed it to discuss the book in general and queerbaiting as one of the topics instead.

I have to admit, there were some parts that felt beyond "normal" friendship, I did entertain the thougth while reading it. However, my opinion on queerbaiting in general (which also includes this book) is that I think our society is so sexualised that any form of close friendship will make us think about a romantic/sexual relationship.

To be honest, I think in most cases, it's more telling about our society in general than about any works of writing/screen in particular.

Then again, I never got that kind of vibe from reading Harry and Ron's friendship. This did feel different.