Celtic Elves? Jackson’s design and the Elves of the films

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by NogrodtheGreat

It seems to me that the filmmakers misunderstood the Elves’ relationship with the natural world, which is (contrary to the Rivendell design) not one of acquiescence and accommodation, but is far more “industrial”. Lothlorien is the best example. At a superficial level, it is a kind of otherworldly “Celtic” paradise, where the Elves live without distrupting the natural processes that go on in the forest. But in fact – and this is crucial – Lothlorien is a completely ‘artificial’ environment. It’s ‘purity’ is sustained by some kind of Magic, emanating from Galadriel and her Ring. The relationship is at its core one of control and mastery. I’m not sure how such a relationship might be evoked through architecture, but at the very least I would argue that the filmmakers’ conception of the Elves as ‘natural’ is flawed and reflected a superficial reading. Furthermore, that their choice of Celtic imagery is actually misleading in this respect. What say you?

I think I agree with you to a certain extent, because I do feel that, as a result of the Three in particular, the Elves' relationship with nature did feature an element of mastery. As Professor Tolkien observes in Letter 181, "they desired some 'power' over things as they are (which is quite distinct from art), to make their particular will to preservation effective: to arrest change, and keep things always fresh and fair."

There are certainly things that bother me about the designs of the Elves in the films - their use of plate armour, much like the Men of Minas Tirith, for instance - and personally I think their artefacts, in Rivendell at least, might possibly be afforded more metal and jewellery, as would befit the Noldor. Similarly I generally feel that 'Elvishness' is presented in the films as dainty and delicate in a way that is rather cliché. But if their architecture was given, say, a more 'Norse' look, would it be confused with Rohan?

Perhaps the most egregious overstatement of this 'nature-loving' aspect of Elves is their apparent vegetarianism in "An Unexpected Journey."