Good point, even JKR says she's flirting with James! She even has a quick smile as she walks up to them.
Yes, it always annoys me when younger readers say they don't think Lily was flirting with James. To all the under-45 readers of HP:
It doesn't matter what you think. You are not Baby Boomers. To someone of our generation, there is no doubt Lily and James are flirting.
People's actions always have to be evaluated in historical context. In the 1970s, girls were not allowed to openly show their interest in boys, especially "bad boys" like James. For people young enough to grow up in a time when women had the freedom to express their sexual interests openly, congratulations. You're lucky not to have the necessary background to recognize this behavior. That does not mean older readers are wrong when we say flirting is occurring--particularly since the author herself has confirmed our belief.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2012-08-19 02:03 am (UTC)Yes, it always annoys me when younger readers say they don't think Lily was flirting with James. To all the under-45 readers of HP:
It doesn't matter what you think. You are not Baby Boomers. To someone of our generation, there is no doubt Lily and James are flirting.
People's actions always have to be evaluated in historical context. In the 1970s, girls were not allowed to openly show their interest in boys, especially "bad boys" like James. For people young enough to grow up in a time when women had the freedom to express their sexual interests openly, congratulations. You're lucky not to have the necessary background to recognize this behavior. That does not mean older readers are wrong when we say flirting is occurring--particularly since the author herself has confirmed our belief.