Quote:
Originally Posted by lmp
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Well, I have to say that I think there is an interesting difference between Catholic aesthetics and protestant aesthetics. And I wonder if this difference is borne out in the art of the two men. Which, I quickly state, to me is not the same thing as sussing out their personal beliefs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lmp
By mirroring reality well, as opposed to writing more of a fairy tale (LWW)? I'm brought back to the 'truism' that Tolkien is writing about death whereas Lewis is writing about a chosen nation, as it were.
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You know, one of these days I am going to accidentally call you
imp.
The whole issue of applying "divine kingship" to feudal or renaissance Europe is, to me, a fascinating story of the appropriation of cultural values to very different social contexts. Nomadic desert tribes versus English barons. It seems to me that death is a much more of hobbits, elves, dwarves and men. Aslan might give "sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve" dominion over the other races, but Tolkien, I think, might have allowed Mr. Tumnus a greater power over his own fate. Therein I think lies what to me might be the ultimate issue here. Is the difference between Tolkien's work and Lewis' work one of artistic hierarchy or competence?