The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Tolkien Template - Carrying on the torch of mythology and folklore

Child of the 7th Age · 11-17-2002, 07:14 PM

Aralaithiel,

Thank you for your peceptive post. You have put my own position into words better than I myself could. And I thank you too for your kind words.

Littlemanpoet, I know there are bright lights out there. I've taught some of them in college and dealt with others as a librarian. There are many I see on this board. But you really have to fight and chart your own course to cling to the liberal arts and especially the humanities these days. And colleges are making it very hard for students to get a general humanities background. They are pushed to specialize earlier and earlier in disciplines which have obvious practical applications, and the number of classes they're allowed to take outside their major gets ever smaller. Sadly, the smaller we make our pool of folk who have the historical and literary background, the less likely we are to come upon that rare genius who can be a JRRT.

Shippey was not denying that there are many good writers of fantasy. He was questioning if there would be a towering genius of the ilk of Tolkien any time soon. He said our educational system makes this less likely. I strongly agree with that based on my own experiences as a teacher and librarian. The priorities of this society make it more difficult, particularly for many students trapped in educational institutions that reflect those same values.

sharon

[ November 17, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

11-17-2002, 07:14 PM	#26
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Aralaithiel, Thank you for your peceptive post. You have put my own position into words better than I myself could. And I thank you too for your kind words. Littlemanpoet, I know there are bright lights out there. I've taught some of them in college and dealt with others as a librarian. There are many I see on this board. But you really have to fight and chart your own course to cling to the liberal arts and especially the humanities these days. And colleges are making it very hard for students to get a general humanities background. They are pushed to specialize earlier and earlier in disciplines which have obvious practical applications, and the number of classes they're allowed to take outside their major gets ever smaller. Sadly, the smaller we make our pool of folk who have the historical and literary background, the less likely we are to come upon that rare genius who can be a JRRT. Shippey was not denying that there are many good writers of fantasy. He was questioning if there would be a towering genius of the ilk of Tolkien any time soon. He said our educational system makes this less likely. I strongly agree with that based on my own experiences as a teacher and librarian. The priorities of this society make it more difficult, particularly for many students trapped in educational institutions that reflect those same values. sharon [ November 17, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ] __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.