You think you've read drivel? You haven't read drivel until you've read this

[William Cloud Hicklin]

But whenever people of clearly non-European racial phenotype show up in Tolkien, be it Hunnic Easterlings or Moorish Haradrim, they're presented as faceless mooks of the Enemy, little better than Orcs.

Woses.

Also, Adorno rocks. Pity he wasn't more relaxed about movies and jazz, but he totally rocks, and let nobody tell you otherwise.

Adorno was one of the great intellectual villains of the 20th Century. May he burn for all eternity in whichever circle of Hell is reserved for Marxist academics.

[Pitchwife]

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Woses.

Good point. I suppose you could say they're portrayed as savages, but at least they're OUR savages. Anyway, they're portrayed with a lot of sympathy, especially taking in account material like The Faithful Stone in UT.
See, I'm not trying to make a case to condemn Tolkien as a racist. I am suggesting that elements of racism are present in Tolkien's work, as are elements of non-racism, and we need to discuss both and not pretend that either isn't there.

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hicklin

Adorno was one of the great intellectual villains of the 20th Century. May he burn for all eternity in whichever circle of Hell is reserved for Marxist academics.

Well, I've always felt that Down Under is the place with the more interesting company. (no offense to Australians intended)

[William Cloud Hicklin]

Well, I've always felt that Down Under is the place with the more interesting company.

Fair point. What's Hades and demons when you can have crocodiles, sharks, stingrays, snakes, spiders, octopi, jellyfish, toads, Tasmanian devils, dingos, kangaroos, drop-bears, enraged koalas, predatory wombats and highly aggressive lawn grasses ALL trying to kill you?

[Mithalwen]

It is the emus that I had trouble with. Liable to get up close and very personal.was happily feeding adorable wallabies when an intrusive beak made me squeak.