21st Century Tolkien

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by davem

Bear with me while I digress.

The last five years have been my most intense period of interest in Tolkien. I first read LotR nearly 30 years ago & after about seven years, in which I read TH, The Sil, UT every year (& BoLT 1&2 once) I drifted into fairly regular readings of LotR & TH & TS & UT occaisionally, along with regular listenings to the BBC adaptation.

It was, ironically, the appearance of the movies which inspired me to get into Tolkien seriously, since when I've read HoM-e through & collected 60+ volumes of 'Tolkieniana', been to Oxonmooot & stood by Tolkien's grave 3 times, spent 5 days at an international Tolkien conference in Birmingham, joined the Down's & met someone who's changed my life.

Whether my interest will continue at this level I've no idea. I'll never not be a lover of Tolkien's work, but I suspect that as the general interest fades (& hence the books & conferences disappears) I'll drift back into my 'simpler' approach, which I think I really preferred in a way. You can analyse things to death.

So, my feeling is that Tolkien will become increasingly accepted in academic circles as a 'serious' writer as the years pass, but I'll probably drift back to TH & LotR every year or so, along with the BBC series, & the rest of the collection will probably find its way onto a bookcase in a back room to be taken down occasionally to check some obscure 'fact'.

I'm looking forward to it, in a way.....

Ah, davem has turned the thread into a soppy moment now.

...but I'm not so sure the collection will find its way into a back room now it has taken all that effort to reorganise the shelves.

I suppose from that respect I've had two phases of being a mad fan, first in the early/mid 80s and then in more recent years. As soon as it became news that the films were coming out I would get asked about them by friends - what they were about and so on. So of course I had to do more reading to make sure I gave them the right answers, and had to find good arguments when someone woulnd me up about 'Legless' and 'Bilblob' and so on... Of course this time around two things have been different. Firstly, I have the money to buy the peripheral books instead of having to get them from the library. Secondly, I have the net and the opportunity to talk to people who do not wind me up about 'Legless'!

I have no doubt that my interest will not diminish. It never has. But I also have the reason that Tolkien brought davem to me, and that's as good a reason as any. More soppiness.....

[The Saucepan Man]

I suspect that I have somehow morphed from a Tolkien fan with an interest in surfing the net into a Barrow-Downs fan with an interest in Tolkien - if that makes any sense ...

[Formendacil]

As long as I live, there will be at least one Tolkien fan in the world. Once I'm dead, 'tis my hope and expectation to meet Tolkien- and finally read a complete, authoritative, and canonical Silmarillion.

Meanwhile, here on this Earth, I foresee no end to the Tolkien fandom. There have been enough generations now to prove that it's a fairly timeless tale. We should, with the movies gone, reach a more or less constant plateau of fan numbers (or back to the slower, steady growth of the pre-movie days).

When the Silmarillion and the HoME finally (if ever) go into the Public Domain (an event that, incidentally, I dread...) I suspect that we shall see a number of new Silmarillions on the market. Quite frankly, I don't see that as a bad thing- unless it should confuse beyond reckoning what the "real" Middle-Earth is. And, while I may not like that inevitable befuddlement, I think that Tolkien might rather approve the confusing of tradition and the infusion of new, alien elements... It gives it a greater air of historical tradition. And it'll be fun, if nothing else, to see what people come up with... a complete "Notions Paper", anybody? How about "The Lost Road"? Or "Tal-Elmar"? I predict MANY variations of the "New Shadow".

So, as a bit of a reactionary by nature, I'm not eager to see such things happen (although I must confess that I have asperations- if no more- to put together my own Silmarillion), but they will be exciting times indeed. And even if I dreaded the coming of the movies, I cannot say that they have been for ill...

I also predict more Tolkien movies within my lifetime... though I dare not say when. Certainly a Hobbit. And, hopefully, a whole series on the Silmarillion.

[narfforc]

Every day someone new enters into the world of Faery, walking into Middle-earth can be dangerous you know. It was forty years ago I first met Mr Bilbo Baggins, and my life has never been the same since. So what type of fan (I use the term loosely) am I, well I like to break things down so as to understand things better, here are my observations:

1. 'I read the Hobbit at school, but couldnt get into LotR, the films were ok though'

2. 'I have read LotR, and tried the Silmarillion, but couldnt get passed the first chapter'.
3. 'I have read LotR, Sil, UF and HoME, I have a number of Tolkien related books'.

4. 'I have over 250 Tolkien/and related books (40 copies of LotR), I have 13 swords, 6 helmets, 2 axes, 2 shields, 2 staffs, Nenya Vilya Narya (twice) The Ring of Barahir, one of the Seven, two of the Nine, 10 board games, lots of painted models, oh and two of The One Ring (just in case I lose The Precious). I have read LotR non-stop every day for the last 2yrs, in an attempt to give the world a loving piece of fan parody, I go to fancy dress parties dressed as a blue wizard and everyone asks who am I, to which I reply (To the Ladies) if you guess correctly I will marry you...................

So there you go, and what do we gain from this knowledge, the vast majority of people we meet, will be number 1s, especially when we are drooling. There are quite a few people who are number 2s, and they shrink away from conversations about The Really Big Dark Lord. On this site we encounter numbers 3 and 4, although there are not many number 4s, because if there were, me and the fellow that pulls funny faces at me in my bathroom mirror, might get worried.

On a serious note, I have no worries, I will continue to attend Oxonmoot each year, and there meet new people, every day someone new enters into the world of Faery..................................

[Mister Underhill]

Originally Posted by Lal

But this new industry even includes the enormous associated fame of academics such as Verlyn Flieger, who attracted a huge queue of people wanting her autograph at Tolkien 2005, and Tom Shippey who was indeed listened to with reverential awe as one of the newspapers reported. Books signed by the academics reach high prices on e-bay, never mind books signed by Tolkien himself!

This is probably the thing I like least about modern fandom -- all the critics and the "Tolkien scholars" and the literary and academic acceptance that so many Tolkien fans have craved for so many years. With every twist and turn in the development of the texts traced, every source and inspiration thoroughly analyzed and linked, every Old English allusion and philological inside joke neatly catalogued, every mystery laid bare, Middle-earth sometimes seems to lay there like a roughly dissected corpse.

I have visions of a future in which LotR becomes just another "classic" that kids are forced to read, and for which they'll be taught certain rote interpretations. I liked it better when everybody had their own crackpot theories about and interpretations of Tolkien. They may have been crazy or ill-informed, but they were the readers' interpretations, not the regurgitated views of a handful of scholars.

But maybe I'm just being a nostalgic auld grump. As a Tolkien fan, can you blame me?

[davem]

Originally Posted by Mister Underhill

This is probably the thing I like least about modern fandom -- all the critics and the "Tolkien scholars" and the literary and academic acceptance that so many Tolkien fans have craved for so many years. With every twist and turn in the development of the texts traced, every source and inspiration thoroughly analyzed and linked, every Old English allusion and philological inside joke neatly catalogued, every mystery laid bare, Middle-earth sometimes seems to lay there like a roughly dissected corpse.

I think the commentators can be divided into two classes - the ones who are attempting to analyse Tolkien's work & draw out the meaning & relevance of it in as objective a way as possible, in order that the reader can come to their own understanding - & the ones with an 'agenda', who seek to use the work to confirm & promote their own agenda (showing the 'Christian' sub-text or 'revealing' the 'racist' sub text).

In the first group I'd put Humphrey Carpenter, Verlyn Flieger, Tom Shippey, Michael Drout, et al. In the second, Joseph Pearce, Bradley Birzer, Germaine Greer & others. The first group have contributed immeasurably to Tolkien studies, the second are a nuisance & I'm sure their books will disappear pretty soon.

[Lalwendë]

Even with the Tolkien scholars who are trying to do serious analyses of the work I sometimes feel a slightly bitter taste though. We must remember that they are only readers like we are and despite books, articles and professorships, we do not have to accept their word as law. I did notice that the scholars have fan worshippers of their own when I was at Tolkien 2005 (and fair enough, most of them are highly entertaining speakers, especially Tom Shippey). But few in the audience dared to challenge them in the Q&A sessions. I didn't, even though I occasionally wanted to; it would have drawn sharp intakes of breath, and drawn daggers, I feared!

I wonder if their fellow scholars ever feel slightly jealous of their fame and book sales? I'll bet Tom Shippey makes a tonne more money than his colleagues who may teach less popular topics!

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Tolkien himself used the theme of "change" in his works, so it shouldn't surprise us that his fandom is subject to that. I've been pondering this question and have divided several aspects of development, both general and personal, into Ages. These are not definitive and certainly subject to additions and revisions.

General Tolkien Fandom

First Age - (1950s to early 60s) The books are published and read, mostly in England at first. There are readers, but perhaps not to be called fans as yet.

Second Age - (late 1960s to early 70s) The books are published in paperback in the US, thereby reaching a great number of young people who become enthused fans. Societies are founded, fanzines written, artwork published as calendars, some merchandise is available, though not much. I would set the end of this age in 1973, with Tolkien's death.

Third Age - (70s to 90s) Some of Tolkien's works are published posthumously; especially the Silmarillion excites fans as new material about Middle-earth is now available. The animated movies attract some attention and keep interest in the books alive. HoME is published to satisfy the growing group of Tolkien scholars and experts.

Fourth Age - (2000 to ?) Peter Jackson's movies get a huge amount of publicity and attract new and old fans alike. The internet provides the medium for communication and communities, with discussions, fan fiction and amateur art (and parodies!) being made available to a huge public audience. Tons of merchandise accompany this and are bought by millions of fans. Secondary literature, which has been on the sideline with relatively few readers, booms as well. LotR wins readers' polls in numerous countries.

That last Age is fading now, in my opinion, and I'm sure the Fifth Age of fandom will carry on, but I would not venture to predict what it will be like. Serious scholarship will certainly be a part of it, and Society members will continue to share their ideas. What other new elements might enliven fandom, I have no idea...


Barrow-Downs Fandom

Though the main site, with its various features and games, began earlier, the discussion forum started in 2000. It too has passed through several ages:

First Age - (2000 - 2001) Pre-movie hype, speculation and news; book discussions; close-knit community spirit with relatively few members

Second Age - (2002 - 2004) Movie discussions; continued book discussions, with more details, additional works besides LotR, and secondary literature as topics; fan creativity in role-playing games, fan fiction and art; highest number of members

Third Age - (2005 - ?) Post-movies: CbC and SbS discussions; continued RPing (though less volume and participation); more fun and games, especially the Werewolf craze; continued community feeling with some long-time and some new members


My Personal Fandom

First Age - Introduction to LotR and Hobbit in 1973 by a boyfriend (Wouldn't I like to know if he's still a fan as well?!); loved the book at first read, sighted the first calendar but didn't like it because it didn't jive with my images.

Second Age - Exile: I moved to Germany a few months later, so had no one to whom I could talk about LotR and became a closet fan, rereading it occasionally. Never could warm up to the German translation(s), so neglected reading them to my own children.

Third Age - Movie hype and discovery of the internet fandom. Downs membership, spending hours of time discussing on the forum and in the chat room, leading to involvement as moderator and more creative writing than I'd ever done in my whole life (RPGs and fan fiction). Lots of reading of additional literature, from Sil and UT to biography, Letters, "minor works", HoME and supplementary books. Real life meetings with other members, trip to Oxford and Tolkien's grave, participation in the big international conference in Birmingham (my personal highlight so far!), seeing the movie exhibition, deciding to join the German Tolkien Society and attending some of their functions.

Fourth Age - Coming up, as I see it. My intensive internet involvement is gradually fading; though I'm spending more time in other activities, my personal interest will continue, I will retain my membership in the Tolkien Society and perhaps be involved there to a certain degree; I will most certainly reread the books as time allows, and probably rewatch the movies ditto. I hope that some of the friendships that began online will survive into future years...


I think the interesting thing will be to be surprised by developments we can't foresee now - after all, who would have thought 10 years ago that a blockbuster movie LotR would be so hugely successful?! I think the most important thing we fans can do to keep Middle-earth alive is to fill in the corners of the world that Tolkien created, to be sub-creators ourselves. Then history will become legend, and legend will become myth...