This definitely annoys me, as well, and I think I figured out the main reason why the other day - Dumbledore and McG both wear glasses. Why would they do this if there's a quick magical fix to something that could be so potentially problematic in, oh, say, a war? There are issues to wearing glasses beyond just appearance that could make them not the smartest option for two of the leaders of the OotP, but they're still wearing glasses. And the fics you're talking about NEVER explain why Harry can just, bam! take a potion, or something (if you're lucky, you get a whole sentence about getting rid of the glasses), but Dumbles and McG never do. It smacks of lack of forethought, imho.
There's definitely a bit of that humanizing thing for me, too, but I think that's the main reason. And the flinging the lenses away in a heated frenzy of passion, mmm yes.
I hadn't thought about DD and McG, but that's true. Percy also wears glasses, I think. And usually fics have Harry correct his vision because he isn't attractive enough without them, not because they're problematic.
Hm, maybe because you're reading H/D and I'm reading HP/SS? I can see Harry being all "omg! must get pretty for Draco! *whips off glasses*" in an H/D fic that's got less than stellar characterization. With Harry/Snape, that's obviously not an issue, as any way you look at it, Harry's still going to be more attractive than Snape :D
Even so, the random divesting of Harry's glasses unfortunately happens in Harry/Snape fic a lot, too, but it's mainly Snape fixing Harry's eyesight so that, in battle, if his glasses fly off, he won't be rendered helpless. Either way, it's annoying.
Haha, true. I imagine pairing Harry with other Sytherins: Blaise? Pansy? also give some authors the desire to remake Harry to be more palatable, otherwise I doubt Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Snape, et al demand that kind of beauty from their mates. It's all really silly though, canonically Slytherins aren't going to like Harry anymore if he's pretty or not.
AUGH I agree with you so much! It's instantly OOC for me if they have Harry correct his vision, because Harry is many things but vain is not one of them. The glasses are so Harry :( and dude, it's not like you need to get rid of them if you want to make Harry hot in a fic. Glasses are hot! :P
That's exactly how I feel, too. Besides he doesn't need to make himself more attractive. He's 'The Chosen One.' The Boy Who Lived. I would think he'd rather not get any more attention.
I agree with everything you say. I also love Harry's glasses. If I ever marry Dan Rad, I'll make him wear the glasses all day, every day. The chances are slim, I grant, but ... Seriously, the glasses *are* Harry.
I've always been very pro-glasses Harry as well--though fingerprints on the lenses have always been a pet peeve of mine. Not that he gets them, but that other people are always pointing it out and he doesn't notice because I am so consantly annoyed when I get smudges on my glasses.
I think it's because I've just always liked glasses on guys in general (I love fics where Draco has them too). I love the weirdness when you see somebody who always wears them without them, like idea of the person waking up with that fuzzy "not wearing them" look before they slip them on. Nope, I can't get into Harry without glasses.
I'm really lazy about cleaning my own glasses when I do wear them. I think that's were that character bit came from. That's probably another reason why I hate glasses. I hate keeping them clean.
I love the weirdness when you see somebody who always wears them without them, like idea of the person waking up with that fuzzy "not wearing them" look before they slip them on.
I know. There are so many interesting ways a writer can use Harry and his glasses in their fics that I'm surprise some writers dump them all together.
They do get dirty without your noticing, so I have no doubt Harry would go a long time without cleaning them, but the fingerprints are like a different thing for me. Because I just imagine him walking around with a bit spot in front of his eyes, as opposed to just not realizing he's looking through dirty lenses.
That's an easy characterization for me to get on board with. I see the Dursley's as never bothering to update his prescription, so he can't see as well as he should even with his glasses. If he's used to a poor prescription, he wouldn't notice smudges and such.
I cannot imagine Harry without his glasses - corrective spells available or not. It such an ingrained part of the character. Draco is pointy. Not sexy and loosing his pointiness for chiseled looks. He is pointy. And Harry has glasses and messy hair that will go wild no matter how you try to fix it/cut it.
Sometimes canon has it right and shouldn't be messed with.
Hahahaha. Yeah. I sometimes wonder if we even read the same book. To me - if you want to create original characters than do it. Stop hiding in fanfiction. If you want to write fanfic than do it, and stop messing with artists (in this case JKR) creations. The reason you write fanfic pairings is because you liked the characters in canon right? why change them then in your story?
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There's definitely a bit of that humanizing thing for me, too, but I think that's the main reason. And the flinging the lenses away in a heated frenzy of passion, mmm yes.
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Even so, the random divesting of Harry's glasses unfortunately happens in Harry/Snape fic a lot, too, but it's mainly Snape fixing Harry's eyesight so that, in battle, if his glasses fly off, he won't be rendered helpless. Either way, it's annoying.
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That's exactly how I feel, too. Besides he doesn't need to make himself more attractive. He's 'The Chosen One.' The Boy Who Lived. I would think he'd rather not get any more attention.
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Seriously, the glasses *are* Harry.
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I think it's because I've just always liked glasses on guys in general (I love fics where Draco has them too). I love the weirdness when you see somebody who always wears them without them, like idea of the person waking up with that fuzzy "not wearing them" look before they slip them on. Nope, I can't get into Harry without glasses.
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I love the weirdness when you see somebody who always wears them without them, like idea of the person waking up with that fuzzy "not wearing them" look before they slip them on.
I know. There are so many interesting ways a writer can use Harry and his glasses in their fics that I'm surprise some writers dump them all together.
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Sometimes canon has it right and shouldn't be messed with.
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And Harry has glasses and messy hair that will go wild no matter how you try to fix it/cut it.
Yes, then there are the fics where Harry has long hair that gently falls around his face. Unless the fic is crack. I want no part of it.
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