LOTR: Metaphors for the Bush and 'conservative' radio?

I'm aware of Tolkein's objections to parallels, but what about Peter Jackson? I havent read the books yet. Is this dialogue taken directly from the book? If so, I cant help but see a parallel...its probably a sign that I've O.D'd on politics!

This is from Saruman speaking in 'Two Towers':

"The world is changing. Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard (conservative radio), and Mordor (GOP, the administration)?

To stand against the might of Sauron (Bush) and Saruman (Rush?)and the union of the two towers (the media and white house)?

Together, my lord Sauron, we shall rule this Middle-Earth. The old world will burn in the fires of industry. The forests will fall. A new order will rise. We will drive the machine of war with the sword and the spear, and the iron fists of the orc (military)."







:freak:

...it's a nice thought. :-)

That's the deliberate creation of a work of art in which each detail has an exact equivalent to something in the real world. Allegory generally sucks & does not age well.

However, good art can have enduring relevance, changing with the times & the viewpoint of the observer. So, draw as many parallels as you like!

My own opinion is that his experiences in the trenches of the Western Front made him dislike those who started wars (Sauron & his ally Saruman were the aggressors in the War of the Ring). He also loved nature (especially trees) & loved words (that's where it all began, for him). But that's just what I think.

btw, didn't Tolkein die long before Bush came to power? just curious... B-)

(bad grammar, I know)

my memory is that it has to do with the rise of Populism in Kansas at the time of William Jennings Bryan, when Kansas was actually quite radical. I'll get back to you on this, because now I'm interested in jogging my memory.

edit-- here's a start (I put oz and populism into google to get this)
http://www.halcyon.com/piglet/Populism.htm

This does not mean that LOTR is not an allegorical work despite Tolkien's conscious intentions. Look at the map of middle earth, it looks similar to Europe.

Also, once a work leaves the creator's hands, it begins to take on new meanings.

I think this is important to think about because whether Tolkien hated allegory or not will not stop people from overlaying his work with allegorical meanings & countering their interpretations requires addressing their interpretations on the basis of the words in the text, not on Tolkien's own personal beliefs.

the destruction of the forests...the alignment of evil forces...the importance of struggle against evil even when all seems hopeless, yes, I saw lots of parallels.

Let's face it, the weed smoking Hobbits and Gandolf are Democrats...

And environmentalist 'wacko's' as well!

I was wondering where the photo in this thread comes from..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=106&topic_id=4851

The second photo. The one with 'the great eye' in it.

I took the photo and enhanced it slightly, but I dont know if it is copywrited or not. I've emailed the poster but have not heard from them yet.

....also, how do you post photos here?

I might see the connection.

The Two Towers, Jackson relates that he has been told that the films of the LotR are pro-war. He objected to that interpretation, saying that they are obviously anti-war, and refers vaguely to the highest profile war in the world today. PJ, at least, seems to be anti-war, and especially against the Iraq War.

I forget which show it was, but after Fellowship or Two Towers, I think it was Two Towers came out he was on a talk show with a home-made "No blood for oil" t-shirt.

Keep in mind that I detest this film franchise. It does for film what Bush does for reality as far as I'm concerned. Fact is, I think much of its success has been due to the Bush myth. The film lacks nuance, and the villains are devoid of motives and are completely inhuman. I see parallels between the world of the film and the world which Bush wants to make you think we live in.

to hate?

:)

I was thinking along the same lines as I watched RoTK. I was wondering if the sieges were resonating with the crowds because they see themselves as being beseiged by evil terrorists. I don't know- maybe.

trust me...

According to Tolkien, Hobbits like books "filled with things they already know, set out fair and square, with no contradictions". They sound like conservatives to me.

I dont think the so-called conservatives are like that.

Just recently, I bought the DVD of The Fellowship of the Ring. Included was a Making Of... documentary originally broadcast on Fox. Being British, I'd never seen anything like it. This horrible, phony-sincere voiceover summarising a plot in which the "peace-loving" (he may even have said "freedom-loving") Hobbits set out to defeat the "forces of evil" etc etc. It wasn't an inaccurate description of the plot, but it was nauseatingly couched in the very terms used by the White House to justify the "war on tairr".