Here's an idea that sprang into my head when I read this:
Quote:
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But I would also say that the quality of Michelangelo’s perspective is probably better than the truck driver's due to his experience with artwork.
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Say a fantasy author reads a fantasy novel by a different author. At the same time, a casual reader is reading the same book. This casual reader likes fantasy, but prefers historical fiction. The author says about the book: "It presents an excellent tale of knights in armour, damsels in distress, evil versus good, and it truly shows that love conquers all." The casual reader says about the
same book: "It was not interesting. Knights, women, good against evil, it's all been done before."
Now, let's say that both opinions of the book were published in the front when it was sent to the press again. Now, say you have found this book in the bookstore or in your library. You read the summary provided, then the reviews. If you are a writer yourself (whether of fan fiction or original genre-of-choice), I would be inclined to say that you would hold the review of the acclaimed author is higher esteem. If you are not a writer, but an avid reader of fantasy, I would say that you are likely to read both and say, "I'll see for myself." If you are not a writer and not an avid reader, I would say that you would probably give more of your trust to the casual reader's review. So, whose review is more likely to be trusted by the majority of people? Whose review is more likely to be trusted by the people who are familiar with the work of the author? Whose review is more likely to be held as "more valid?"
On another note, I firmly believe that we will see a writer who will be as good as, if not better than, Tolkien. Maybe it will be one of the 'Downers. (Then we will all be able to say, "Hey, I know him/her from a Tolkien forum! Imagine, now he/she will have forums dedicated to his/her work!") This writer, who
will emerge, will have to live up to Tolkien--in the eyes of people who love Tolkien's work and in the eyes of people who have never, or have but once heard of Tolkien. This writer will have to be
better than Tolkien, or else he (or she) will be "just another Tolkien influenced writer." This writer will have to acheive that perfect balance of being more complete than Tolkien in the background of his universe while leaving plenty open to speculation. It will not be an easy task for this writer, nor will it be an easy task for the die-hard Tolkien fans to accept him. Why? Because they (I should say "we") will have to accept him as a writer influenced by Tolkien who regarded Tolkien as a master, but who surpassed Tolkien.
And on yet another topic, I will offer terrible proof that the arts are slowly being demolished in schools. In my high school this year, funds were cut for all "dead" or "becoming dead" languages. Greek, Gaelic, and ancient Arabic were wiped out of the curriculum completely. Latin was cut back to one year to be taken as an elective only. Tolkien, CS Lewis, TH White, Ray Bradbury, Marion Zimmer Bradley, etc. were all banned from school grounds. The funds for both the art program and drama club were cut back severely. The Writers' Clubs (for Sci-Fi and Fantasy only) were destroyed as they promoted "anti-scientific, witch-craft like, and anti-religious" ideas. The English curriculum had three wonderful books cut straight out of it. They are Romeo and Juliet, Lord of the Flies, and Beowulf. They were cut out because time did not allow for it. The creative writing courses were all but destroyed. All this because the math and science departments needed more money. Now, I have nothing against math and science (I am a future architect, both will be involved in my career), but I hate to see so many artistic programs destroyed or cut back. It cut especially deep when the fantasy writers' group I started was ended. I will not go on into detail about how this will hurt the future if things like this happen all over the world. I'm sure others can draw the conclusions for themselves.