Posted: June 10, 2000 at 23:59:15: by SUZanne913
Several years ago, I wanted to write down a list of movies, but I didn't know how I wanted to catergorize them. Finally, I came up with the title, "MOVIES THAT YOU NEED TO SEE TO GROW UP RIGHT."Such movies were "The Ghostbusters," "The Miracle Worker," "Forbidden Planet," "The Godfather," "Singing in the Rain," "Resevoir Dogs," "Charlotte's Web," "Silent Running," "The Wizard of Oz," "North By Northwest," and the list goes on. Sometimes its just a matter of description. How did these academics describe their list? "Most Imporatant," "Most Socially Relevent," "Most Likely to Change the World" ???
Even though there is a definate readership out there, not everyone is familiar with LotR. I just got an IM while I was typing this. A relative asked me what I was doing. I said I was "trying to find some Tolkien fans." She wanted to know what "Tolkien Fans" were. ::sigh::
I wrote back the following:
J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings. I think she understood. You see, a lot of people know what a hobbit is. But they don't know where it comes from. Several of the films on my list of movies to "Grow Up Right" have to do with our Culture, and the importance of knowing where things come from. Think about these common, everyday phrases: "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore." The Wizard of Oz
"I made him an offer he couldn't refuse." The Godfather
"Dogs and Cats, living together. Mass Hysteria!" The Ghostbusters "May the Force be With You." Star Wars
"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore." Network
Sorry, I didn't mean to make this a movie symposium.
The point I'm trying to make is that if something is SO PERVASIVE in a Culture, then it is a responsiblity and a necessity (which MAKES it IMPORTANT) of those within the Culture to know the background of (at least in part) things that touch their lives. If you've ever used one of the phrases above, you should - sooner or later - find out where it comes from (if you don't already know). If you've heard of hobbits, (and - god-forbid, - if you're curious), you should read the books. If you watch Babylon 5, you REALLY need to read LotR. Really. Tolkien definately needs to be read to Grow Up Right. I wonder if the academics had made a "Novels to Read to Grow Up Right," list, if Tolkien would be there.
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