Are There Any Valid Criticisms? (aka Kalessin's Rant) - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kalessin · 04-22-2002, 01:59 PM

Hi Estel [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Thanks for a typically gracious reply. Whilst perhaps coming from different positions, hopefully you will agree that the tone of this thread, at least, has been inclusive and respectful. Certainly I continue to learn from, and be stimulated by, the intelligent and challenging contributions from you and others. I declare the chewing out hereby ended [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Any 'sincere' form of spirituality expressed through art faces a kind of double-whammy - on the one hand, the pressure to be inclusive and non-confrontational ; on the other, to avoid ridicule or deconstruction by postmodern cultural critique. The kind of attentive 'literalness' (in relation to mythos and its moral framework) you have previously (and correctly, in my view) ascribed to Tolkien can be taken as read given his formative era - but for authors steeped in more recent cultural developments it is not so straightforward. It can all too easily be seen as recidivist naivete, a statement in itself. And this may be particularly true in the fantasy genre, hamstrung by cliches, with the millstone of LotR's universal appeal round its neck, and its ancestral link to fairy tales and other supposed 'childish' things.

While Tolkien's moral idealism did not need to be justified or contextualised in his day, a writer today (unless aiming for a particular 'in-the-know' niche) may well need to acknowledge pluralism and/or offer up a rationalisation for any spiritual tenets (note the plethora of "Aliens started it all" frameworks). Remember, the global market for fantasy literature is (I reckon) in the main secular, or at least 'uncommitted'. Even on these boards, the argument that anything with 'magic' etc. is promoting occultism and is anti-religious has been aired, so I think we can assume the general fantasy readership to be more of a mixed bunch.

Perhaps this is another of the challenges that face fantasy authors today. If so, it seems to me that it will be incredibly difficult to achieve the kind of universal acceptance and affection that is given to LotR. Difficult ... but not impossible, I hope.

Thanks again to everyone for such interesting and well-written contributions to this thread. Can I say "I don't know half of you as well as I should like ... " (that'll do) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Peace

[ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]

04-22-2002, 01:59 PM	#11
Kalessin Wight Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Earthsea, or London Posts: 175	Hi Estel [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Thanks for a typically gracious reply. Whilst perhaps coming from different positions, hopefully you will agree that the tone of this thread, at least, has been inclusive and respectful. Certainly I continue to learn from, and be stimulated by, the intelligent and challenging contributions from you and others. I declare the chewing out hereby ended [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Any 'sincere' form of spirituality expressed through art faces a kind of double-whammy - on the one hand, the pressure to be inclusive and non-confrontational ; on the other, to avoid ridicule or deconstruction by postmodern cultural critique. The kind of attentive 'literalness' (in relation to mythos and its moral framework) you have previously (and correctly, in my view) ascribed to Tolkien can be taken as read given his formative era - but for authors steeped in more recent cultural developments it is not so straightforward. It can all too easily be seen as recidivist naivete, a statement in itself. And this may be particularly true in the fantasy genre, hamstrung by cliches, with the millstone of LotR's universal appeal round its neck, and its ancestral link to fairy tales and other supposed 'childish' things. While Tolkien's moral idealism did not need to be justified or contextualised in his day, a writer today (unless aiming for a particular 'in-the-know' niche) may well need to acknowledge pluralism and/or offer up a rationalisation for any spiritual tenets (note the plethora of "Aliens started it all" frameworks). Remember, the global market for fantasy literature is (I reckon) in the main secular, or at least 'uncommitted'. Even on these boards, the argument that anything with 'magic' etc. is promoting occultism and is anti-religious has been aired, so I think we can assume the general fantasy readership to be more of a mixed bunch. Perhaps this is another of the challenges that face fantasy authors today. If so, it seems to me that it will be incredibly difficult to achieve the kind of universal acceptance and affection that is given to LotR. Difficult ... but not impossible, I hope. Thanks again to everyone for such interesting and well-written contributions to this thread. Can I say "I don't know half of you as well as I should like ... " (that'll do) [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Peace [ April 22, 2002: Message edited by: Kalessin ]