Are these the fifty you would have chosen? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Encaitare · 08-02-2004, 11:03 AM

::tentatively raises hand:: The movies brought *me* to the books, actually. I loved the first two movies so much and couldn't wait for the third, so I just went out and read the whole trilogy. And thus an obsession was born.

So I would say PJ and crew deserve their credit, although not necessarily as No. 1.

Rimbaud · 08-03-2004, 01:43 AM

Naturally with such a list, people will quibble over the meaning of the word 'important'. It seems in this instance that the compiler intends for it to be equated in the first instance with 'successful in popularising', then 'influence upon' and then assorted others. Perhaps 'worked hard to justify to cynics' should be a category...

The first priority of the compiler may help with explaining PJ; the website is also movie-based in any case.

What might be more interesting, although perhaps not suited for this forum until complete, is our own such list. Talent borrows, genius steals.

mark12_30 · 08-03-2004, 07:29 AM

I second Rimbaud's suggestion. Child, do a literary Barrow Downs List!

Establish your criteria and your rules, open the thread up for voting if you like, compile your final list, and then-- what the heck! Send it to TORN with some comment such as "while we were intrigued by the previous list, we thought for comparision and contrast, we'd provide one with a literary emphasis."

Bêthberry · 08-03-2004, 08:23 AM

Quote:

28) The governing body of Merton College - Gave Tolkien a home after his wife died.

Hmmm. They omitted the man who drove the car Tolkien hired for transport on family holidays.

There seems to be great confusion in this list between those who popularise Tolkien, those whose work creates greater understanding of Tolkien, and those whose work is inspired by Tolkien, to say nothing of Son of Númenor's point about the literary influences on Tolkien himself or even the historical events in his life which molded the Legendarium.

I can see the Downs holding two Bookish polls: 1) most important works which inspired or influenced the writing ofLotR/the Legendarium and 2)works and/or writers most influenced by Tolkien.

"Influences Five-Oh". As Helen suggests, "Book 'em, Child."

Cibbwin · 08-03-2004, 09:15 AM

Ditto, movie introduced me to books. Never heard of LoTR before the FoTR movie.

All I know is that that list has inspired me to erect a shrine to Priscilla Tolkien. :P

mark12_30 · 08-03-2004, 10:31 AM

Quote:

26) Pauline Baynes - The illustrator of the original Hobbit.

Eh??? *blinks* Am I missing something?

Quote:

She seems to be the only person Tolkien trusted to illustrate his tales faithfully.

....that much I believe.

Child of the 7th Age · 08-03-2004, 02:35 PM

I crawled into bed yesterday with the summer flu and am just crawling out again, a bit wobbly but on my feet. I was surprised to see that so much had happened here.

Actually, that sounds like a good idea: to post threads that allow people to put up their own lists, and to make the focus of these lists more precise than the one on the One Ring. I do agree that we need more than one list, and I would also suggest that each list have no more than six to ten spots in ranked order (depending on the list in question). Might as well put people's feet to the fire!

How about this for the lists?

most important works which inspired or influenced the writing of LotR/the Legendarium (per Bethberry)
those individuals who had the most decisive personal impact on Tolkien in terms of his writings and the creation of Middle-earth
those creators and scholars who, following in Tolkien's footsteps, have helped us to better understand the author and his works (per Bethberry but slightly altered).

How does this sound? The third one really covers two angles and I'm not sure if it should be split.

I'll probably do this late Wednesday or Thursday, after I recover from the flu and finish working on some very overdue RPG posts. But I'll check back in to see if folks have any more suggestions.

Of couse, when I post the thread, I would also include my own suggestions. People are welcome to take pot shots--that is, at the list, hopefully not at me! I am curious how much concensus there will be.

08-03-2004, 01:43 AM	#2
Rimbaud The Perilous Poet Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Heart of the matter Posts: 1,062	Definitions Naturally with such a list, people will quibble over the meaning of the word 'important'. It seems in this instance that the compiler intends for it to be equated in the first instance with 'successful in popularising', then 'influence upon' and then assorted others. Perhaps 'worked hard to justify to cynics' should be a category... The first priority of the compiler may help with explaining PJ; the website is also movie-based in any case. What might be more interesting, although perhaps not suited for this forum until complete, is our own such list. Talent borrows, genius steals. __________________ And all the rest is literature

08-03-2004, 07:29 AM	#3
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	I second Rimbaud's suggestion. Child, do a literary Barrow Downs List! Establish your criteria and your rules, open the thread up for voting if you like, compile your final list, and then-- what the heck! Send it to TORN with some comment such as "while we were intrigued by the previous list, we thought for comparision and contrast, we'd provide one with a literary emphasis." __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

08-03-2004, 09:15 AM	#5
Cibbwin Wight Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 145	Ditto, movie introduced me to books. Never heard of LoTR before the FoTR movie. All I know is that that list has inspired me to erect a shrine to Priscilla Tolkien. :P __________________ The Warrior Hobbit Nîn o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer; Rimmo nîn Bruinen, dan in Ulaer!

08-03-2004, 02:35 PM	#7
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	I crawled into bed yesterday with the summer flu and am just crawling out again, a bit wobbly but on my feet. I was surprised to see that so much had happened here. Actually, that sounds like a good idea: to post threads that allow people to put up their own lists, and to make the focus of these lists more precise than the one on the One Ring. I do agree that we need more than one list, and I would also suggest that each list have no more than six to ten spots in ranked order (depending on the list in question). Might as well put people's feet to the fire! How about this for the lists? most important works which inspired or influenced the writing of LotR/the Legendarium (per Bethberry) those individuals who had the most decisive personal impact on Tolkien in terms of his writings and the creation of Middle-earth those creators and scholars who, following in Tolkien's footsteps, have helped us to better understand the author and his works (per Bethberry but slightly altered). How does this sound? The third one really covers two angles and I'm not sure if it should be split. I'll probably do this late Wednesday or Thursday, after I recover from the flu and finish working on some very overdue RPG posts. But I'll check back in to see if folks have any more suggestions. Of couse, when I post the thread, I would also include my own suggestions. People are welcome to take pot shots--that is, at the list, hopefully not at me! I am curious how much concensus there will be. __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

08-02-2004, 11:03 AM	#1
Encaitare Bittersweet Symphony Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: On the jolly starship Enterprise Posts: 1,814	::tentatively raises hand:: The movies brought me to the books, actually. I loved the first two movies so much and couldn't wait for the third, so I just went out and read the whole trilogy. And thus an obsession was born. So I would say PJ and crew deserve their credit, although not necessarily as No. 1.