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Lalwendë · 09-20-2006, 03:48 AM

Very good point. It makes me wonder if we ought to be selecting, at some point, an 'authorised' text. But who can do that? Us, the fans? The estate?

It's also quite scary thinking about the amount of extremism in this world, both in political terms and in terms of political correctness, which is a constantly shifting factor.

Should texts move 'with the times', or should they be fossilised and preserved? It's in a way the ultimate, most extreme form of reader response to allow dogma of any kind to interfere with literature. Fringe critical views can eventually become more popular and gain primacy, and so not only will readings change but texts themselves could change. In the case of the Tolkien estate, as it grows further away from those in the family who knew the Professor, will it turn into just a cash cow to be milked?

09-20-2006, 03:48 AM	#10
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Very good point. It makes me wonder if we ought to be selecting, at some point, an 'authorised' text. But who can do that? Us, the fans? The estate? It's also quite scary thinking about the amount of extremism in this world, both in political terms and in terms of political correctness, which is a constantly shifting factor. Should texts move 'with the times', or should they be fossilised and preserved? It's in a way the ultimate, most extreme form of reader response to allow dogma of any kind to interfere with literature. Fringe critical views can eventually become more popular and gain primacy, and so not only will readings change but texts themselves could change. In the case of the Tolkien estate, as it grows further away from those in the family who knew the Professor, will it turn into just a cash cow to be milked? __________________ Gordon's alive!