Posted: May 30, 1998 at 01:13:06: by Michael Martinez
: I checked out a web page that lists Tolkien inspired music.
: Most of it is "Death Metal" European bands who focus on, and
: revel in, the evil of Middle Earth and has definite links to
: satanism and the occult. There are a precious few in the list
: that seem to want to look at the good side & enjoy it (and
: maybe it reflects the list maker more than the general trend).
: This is also seen in the Dungeons & Dragons scene. So here's my
: questions...: 1. What did Tolkien think of this trend that goes counter to
: his own deep faith? Did this stuff start to pop up while he was
: alive & if so, what did he say then? Tolkien died in 1973, which was some years before D & D caught
on, I think. However, someone once sent him a replica of the One
Ring in the 1960s and he was very offended. : 2. Why? Why has LOTR inspired this dark offshoot, when the
: story make it clear that evil is hopeless & looses in the end? Quite possibly the interest in Middle-earth evil is simply an
outgrowth of some other cultural expression which would have
latched onto something else if Tolkien had not given us the
wonders of Middle-earth to enjoy. : Myself, I'd much rather be a Ranger, Hobbit, or guard in Minas
: Tirith instead of an orc, troll, or ring wraith. I think I'd prefer to be a King of Numenor or Arnor.... :)
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Parma Endorion: Essays on Middle-earth, Revised Edition
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