Tolkien's Middle-earth doesn't look like Medieval Europe: Re: Middle-Earth Medieval?

» Mataxes - Re: Middle-Earth Medieval?

In response to message posted by Rasvarca:

I am going to veer slightly off topic here, but I do have one or two points about this whole pseudo-medieval discussion going on.

First of all, as the only person on the planet (apparently) who enjoyed "Dungeons & Dragons", I have to step forward and put up some sort of defense. I will hardly argue that the film is a great fantasy movie, but I wonder why people expected such great things out of a film based on a game that is often as cheesy, cliche-ridden, and anachronistic as the film. In other words, I think the film captured the feel and tone of the game wonderfully. I had fun watching it, and in my book that's plenty (it is called entertainment after all).

To bring this around to the discussion at hand, I don't think there is any great harm in medieval interpretations of Middle Earth. Those tropes (a kinder word than "cliches") are such a deeply rooted part of Western culture, that any kind of historical tale, real or fictionalized, will have those popular images associated with it.

Look at the development and growth of the Arthurian legends -- certainly a place where medievalism has run rampant over the years. As a scholar of European myth and legend (medieval and otherwise), Tolkien must have been keenly aware of the traditions and common imagery of that imagined past. Indeed, it is clear that many elements of ME were taken from various folkloric tradtions.

Finally, to adress the recent comment that we're a little too analytical in this whole thing -- I don't think it is intended as any kind of slight against the visionnary work of Peter Jackson. For many of us, a more thorough understanding of LotR enhances our appreciation for the craft displayed by Jackson in his interpretation.

At least, I know that's how it is for me.

-- posted by Mataxes