The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Lyta_Underhill · 08-01-2003, 03:17 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>How about Asian Valar? Try to make them multi-racial.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Im not trying to sound racist, (and believe me i am certainly not!!!) Tolkien created his mythology as a substitute Anglo-Saxon mythology, somehow i dont think one of them would do.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Actually, making the Valar Asian would add a more otherworldly quality to them and suggest their otherness from the Children of Iluvatar in a concrete way (much like I think they chose Elijah Wood for his "elvish" look to suggest Frodo's slight difference from the other Hobbits.). It actually sounds like an interesting idea! I've seen also some artwork that portrays Elves with very upswept eyes, almost Asian, but not quite, but not Western either. That suggests otherness to me too, although they cannot be pegged as Asian or Western. (The artist I speak of is Ezpeleta and can be found on the Rolozo Tolkien page at The One Ring's site, other places too, I think) I think the variation of race to suggest the Valar/Eldar split would be neat, but I would add something that would separate them from true Asian looks as well, maybe like a bluish skin tone, like some Hindu deity depictions. Of course, this would cancel out the "taking the form of the Children of Iluvatar" parts of the story perhaps, but for a movie, it would be a good visual index. Neat idea, NeferchoirwenCheers, Lyta

08-01-2003, 03:17 PM	#76
Lyta_Underhill Haunted Halfling Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: an uncounted length of steps--floating between air molecules Posts: 841	<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>How about Asian Valar? Try to make them multi-racial.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Im not trying to sound racist, (and believe me i am certainly not!!!) Tolkien created his mythology as a substitute Anglo-Saxon mythology, somehow i dont think one of them would do.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Actually, making the Valar Asian would add a more otherworldly quality to them and suggest their otherness from the Children of Iluvatar in a concrete way (much like I think they chose Elijah Wood for his "elvish" look to suggest Frodo's slight difference from the other Hobbits.). It actually sounds like an interesting idea! I've seen also some artwork that portrays Elves with very upswept eyes, almost Asian, but not quite, but not Western either. That suggests otherness to me too, although they cannot be pegged as Asian or Western. (The artist I speak of is Ezpeleta and can be found on the Rolozo Tolkien page at The One Ring's site, other places too, I think) I think the variation of race to suggest the Valar/Eldar split would be neat, but I would add something that would separate them from true Asian looks as well, maybe like a bluish skin tone, like some Hindu deity depictions. Of course, this would cancel out the "taking the form of the Children of Iluvatar" parts of the story perhaps, but for a movie, it would be a good visual index. Neat idea, <B>Neferchoirwen</B><P>Cheers,<BR>Lyta __________________ “…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”