Posted: October 15, 1999 at 00:45:55: by Michael Martinez
This is perhaps my most extensive treatment of the medievalism subject to date. Sadly, I type these essays into a text box that has only so much capacity. Although I've been working on the essay all week, tonight I ran out of room and had to hastily cut and paste it all into a text editor and begin winnowing out superfluous comments. But I also had to exclude certain issues which have been dicussed here and elsewhere in the past, so this is by no means a truly thorough examination of the issues. There is, I think, another way to upload the essays but with my deadline approaching I decided for the shorter, surer method, rather than a hastily attempted experiment.I have tried to present the arguments fairly and in balance, but my sentiments are strong and well-known and there will be no doubt in the reader's mind where I stand on matters. :) I did, however, give as much credence to the pro-medievalist view -- especially at the end -- as I could without seeming to contradict myself. This essay won't settle any Great Debates, but it may help to spur new discussion. People are welcome to post comments on Suite101 or here on the White Council. And I suppose people will view this essay as a rather harsh criticism of Peter Jackson. I have, from the very beginning, defended Jackson's right or privilege to interpret the story as he wishes. I have no doubts about his ability as a director, and I expect to enjoy the movies. But I have come to the conclusion that Jackson's Middle-earth will not be very close to Tolkien's world after all, despite the massive effort brought to bear on the project. He is simply heading (in my opinion) in the wrong direction. Hence, I suppose I may find myself on the outside of certain communities of opinion, but then, I'm no stranger to ostracism in that respect. :) Don't know when exactly the essay goes live. All I enter is a date, October 15, and sometime in the wee hours the Tolkien and Middle-earth topic is updated to include it.
------------------
Suite101'S Tolkien and Middle-earth Topic
|
