'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground

[Steve Hayes]

'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)

by David French https://t.co/ncwOkp2enS

These days, however, Tolkien isn’t just relevant to nerd world. It
feels strange to say this, but the proper interpretation of his work
has geopolitical implications. Critical factions of the new right at
home and the far right in Europe have latched on to Tolkien’s work. By
“new right” I mean the post-Reagan right, a movement that embraces
state power as a means of fighting and winning the culture war. But
they’re getting Tolkien wrong, and the way in which they are getting
Tolkien wrong matters for all of us.

Last month, Politico’s Adam Wren wrote an extended analysis of the way
that the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy shaped JD Vance. On a 2021
podcast, Vance said, “I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ guy, and I think,
not realizing it at the time, but a lot of my conservative worldview
was influenced by Tolkien growing up.” Vance named his venture capital
firm, Narya, after a magical elven ring. His political ally and
benefactor Peter Thiel named one of his companies Palantir, another
magical object in “Lord of the Rings.” Vance also invested in Anduril
Industries, a defense firm named after Aragorn’s sword.

(Full disclosure: One of my most prized possessions is a replica of
Anduril. My wife, Nancy, commissioned a swordsmith to make it for me
almost 20 years ago. She gets me.)

But Tolkien’s influence isn’t just domestic. In 2022, The Times
published a fascinating analysis by Jason Horowitz of how “The Lord of
the Rings” shaped the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and much
of the Italian far right.

Read it all here:
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/opinion/maga-tolkien-lotr.html>

[June Of Daventry]

Post by Steve Hayes
'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)
by David French https://t.co/ncwOkp2enS
These days, however, Tolkien isn’t just relevant to nerd world. It
feels strange to say this, but the proper interpretation of his work
has geopolitical implications. Critical factions of the new right at
home and the far right in Europe have latched on to Tolkien’s work. By
“new right” I mean the post-Reagan right, a movement that embraces
state power as a means of fighting and winning the culture war. But
they’re getting Tolkien wrong, and the way in which they are getting
Tolkien wrong matters for all of us.
Last month, Politico’s Adam Wren wrote an extended analysis of the way
that the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy shaped JD Vance. On a 2021
podcast, Vance said, “I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ guy, and I think,
not realizing it at the time, but a lot of my conservative worldview
was influenced by Tolkien growing up.” Vance named his venture capital
firm, Narya, after a magical elven ring. His political ally and
benefactor Peter Thiel named one of his companies Palantir, another
magical object in “Lord of the Rings.” Vance also invested in Anduril
Industries, a defense firm named after Aragorn’s sword.
(Full disclosure: One of my most prized possessions is a replica of
Anduril. My wife, Nancy, commissioned a swordsmith to make it for me
almost 20 years ago. She gets me.)
But Tolkien’s influence isn’t just domestic. In 2022, The Times
published a fascinating analysis by Jason Horowitz of how “The Lord of
the Rings” shaped the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and much
of the Italian far right.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/opinion/maga-tolkien-lotr.html>

American right misinterpreting popular media? That's news to me!
(Something something Trump and Citizen Kane)

[June Of Daventry]

Post by Steve Hayes
'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)
by David French https://t.co/ncwOkp2enS
These days, however, Tolkien isn’t just relevant to nerd world. It
feels strange to say this, but the proper interpretation of his work
has geopolitical implications. Critical factions of the new right at
home and the far right in Europe have latched on to Tolkien’s work. By
“new right” I mean the post-Reagan right, a movement that embraces
state power as a means of fighting and winning the culture war. But
they’re getting Tolkien wrong, and the way in which they are getting
Tolkien wrong matters for all of us.
Last month, Politico’s Adam Wren wrote an extended analysis of the way
that the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy shaped JD Vance. On a 2021
podcast, Vance said, “I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ guy, and I think,
not realizing it at the time, but a lot of my conservative worldview
was influenced by Tolkien growing up.” Vance named his venture capital
firm, Narya, after a magical elven ring. His political ally and
benefactor Peter Thiel named one of his companies Palantir, another
magical object in “Lord of the Rings.” Vance also invested in Anduril
Industries, a defense firm named after Aragorn’s sword.
(Full disclosure: One of my most prized possessions is a replica of
Anduril. My wife, Nancy, commissioned a swordsmith to make it for me
almost 20 years ago. She gets me.)
But Tolkien’s influence isn’t just domestic. In 2022, The Times
published a fascinating analysis by Jason Horowitz of how “The Lord of
the Rings” shaped the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and much
of the Italian far right.
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/opinion/maga-tolkien-lotr.html>

American right misinterpreting popular media? That's news to me!
(Something something Trump and Citizen Kane)

[Schlomo Goldberg]

Post by Steve Hayes
'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)

Are you sure Tolkien wasn't far right? I mean, he definitely wrote how
Western European-looking people were protecting their homelands from
hordes of nigg... I mean, orcs.

Post by Steve Hayes
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, the Dúnedain
(/ˈduːnɛdaɪn/; singular: Dúnadan, "Man of the West") were a race of
Men, also known as the Númenóreans or Men of Westernesse (translated
from the Sindarin term).

[Paul S Person]

On Fri, 11 Oct 2024 18:43:06 -0000 (UTC), Schlomo Goldberg

Post by Schlomo Goldberg

Post by Steve Hayes
'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)

Are you sure Tolkien wasn't far right? I mean, he definitely wrote how
Western European-looking people were protecting their homelands from
hordes of nigg... I mean, orcs.

In one of his letters, Tolkien described how he thought Orcs should be
portrayed in a projected movie (never done).

The description matches the one for "Huns" (IIRC, could be "Mongols")
in Gibbons. So, no, they were protecting their lands from people who
fit the stereotype. Hun or Mongol, they made a lasting impression on
the European mind.

The Southrons, OTOH ... but they were just a conquered category of Men
(as were the Wainrider Eastrons), not Orcs. In the book, Sam even
develops some sympathy for one of them. And they pose a threat to
Gondor that reduces Gondor's defences at the critical time.

Post by Schlomo Goldberg

Post by Steve Hayes
In J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth writings, the Dúnedain
(/?du?n?da?n/; singular: Dúnadan, "Man of the West") were a race of
Men, also known as the Númenóreans or Men of Westernesse (translated
from the Sindarin term).

The Dúnedain in Middle Earth were only a part of the population. The
main Man ruler, Denethor, was not a pureblood Dúnedan, for example.
Yet he and his two sons did a great deal to hold back Sauron (Faramir
being, of course, rather more successful).

The Far Right is also the group the howled when /The Hunger Games/
came out because they thought it was a world with no non-whites in it.
The Far Right is a bunch of ninnies who project their foul beliefs
onto anything they can.