As a lifelong fan of Tolkien’s Middle-earth, I must say that I find this latest wave of political interpretations rather disheartening. While it’s intriguing to see the depths to which people can analyze these stories, it seems like we’re straying further and further away from the simple joy of escaping into a magical world filled with hobbits, elves, and dragons.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed how easily anything can become polarized when it comes to politics. Take “The Lord of the Rings,” for instance – a timeless fantasy world that, strangely enough, has been drawn into the 21st-century political fray. It’s fascinating (and slightly absurd) how people interpret its themes and symbols to suit their respective ideologies.
One of the Three Elven Rings is called Narya. At first, it was worn by the Elven blacksmith Celebrimbor. Later, it was passed on to the bearded Elven boatmaker Círdan and ultimately given to Gandalf, who utilized its Ring of Power during “The Lord of the Rings.” (You can catch a glimpse of this sacred artifact in the San Diego Comic-Con trailer for Season 2 here.) Maddow noted that Narya is simple to recall as it spells Aryan with the final letter moved to the beginning.
As a dedicated gamer, I stumbled upon an intriguing tidbit: The news anchor mentioned that Vance’s supporter, tech billionaire Peter Thiel, named his company after the Palantir stones from J.R.R. Tolkien’s world. You know, those magical seeing stones? In Peter Jackson’s films, Saruman and Sauron used them for communication, while Aragorn threatened the Dark Lord through one as well. Cool, right?
Where you live makes a difference in your Middle-earth politics
A study brought attention to the varying interpretations of “The Lord of the Rings” and Middle-earth, based on geographical locations. For example, in some Italian far-right circles, the themes emphasized in Tolkien’s works may not be primarily about the struggle of peaceful Hobbits against evil (a common viewpoint in North America). Rather, it might focus more on the conflict between the preservation of traditional values and the upheaval and devastation brought by modernity.
Some people see modernity as advancement and improvement in the world, while traditionalists view it as decay and a call to revert to old traditions and values. This conflict between the past and the future is understandable. European politics has a longer historical perspective than North American politics, with centuries of ideological shifts influencing the course of history.
Is an alt-right reading of Lord of the Rings fair?
The question that is firing up the internet community is whether accusing a “Lord of the Rings” fan of having far-right leanings by default is fair — and the best answer may be, well, it kind of depends on the individual. On the one hand, there are certainly examples that can back up the thesis. On the other hand, Middle-earth’s fandom is massive and includes a lot of different demographics, including non-extreme conservatives, political moderates, and left-leaning, liberal supporters. It also has plenty of apolitical fans who aren’t interested in connecting their nerdy interests with politics of any kind.
Tolkien enthusiast donmarshal72 shared a thoughtful perspective in the ongoing discussion, suggesting that while the politicization of Tolkien’s universe is partly warranted, it sometimes goes beyond its intended boundaries. As an illustration, they pointed out that certain elements, such as the use of “orc” to stereotype people with brown skin and “dwarf” as a derogatory term for Jewish individuals, could be perceived as subtle political cues.
Simultaneously, the ex-journalist mentioned that Maddow and her crew are searching for links that will resonate on the web. “The Lord of the Rings” is a rich mine of trendy phrases that can stimulate online activity, attract viewers, generate income, and boost earnings. The influencer concluded his video by urging action to improve the nation, suggesting, “Act like Samwise Gamgee, opt for kindness, it’s the best approach.”
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2024-08-03 14:59