New Read on 'Rings,' Double Standard on Slurs (Lord of the Rings is Racist)

Fox News ^ | Dec. 29, 2003 | Scott Norvell

[wizardoz]

People like Lloyd also think movies like Star Wars are documentaries.

No, no, that's Star TREK. And of course, Gilligan's island. (Those poor people....)

(Galaxy Quest moment.)

[Modernman]

Modernity has put a stigma on close friendships between males, particularly with the gay lobby.

Seeing as Hobbits aren't human, for all we know, they might be hermaphrodites or they might reproduce asexually.

[stuartcr]

I think they should direct their complaints, etc, to the author.

[Pyro7480]

Seeing as Hobbits aren't human, for all we know, they might be hermaphrodites or they might reproduce asexually.

They reproduce just like humans. Tolkien describes hobbits as being "child-like," so it is not foreign for them to see anything wrong with these kind of friendships.

[Modernman]

They reproduce just like humans

I think my point is that some people read a little bit too much into the close friendship between Sam and Frodo. Some people are obsessed with finding homosexuality everywhere.

[Pyro7480]

Some people are obsessed with finding homosexuality everywhere.

Exactly! They exist on both sides of the debate, but particularly on the gay side.

[Noumenon]

The deep triple bong-hit thinkers whiners at Indymedia...

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

"racist stereotypical tapestry"

Wrong! It is a shame these people can't accept the fact that there were no Africans or Hispanics or Orientals in Middle Earth. And it is a ridiculous stretch, and overly sensitive to think that because they are dark-skinned, orcs and goblins represent people of non-N. European descent.

[petitfour]

What about the cursed dead? Are they offended? What ethnic group are represented by the dead characters?

[JCB]

So Lloyd Hart thinks the Uruk-hai resemble Native Americans? I can't say I see the similarity...

Makes you wonder who the real racist here is, doesn't it?


Can you imagine a conservarive saying the Orcs look like blacks or natives? Only a liberal could get away with that!

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

"Can you imagine how people of skin color, of Persian, Arab and East Asian ethnic background feel when they come out of these films where all the heroes are white

Do you know how just AWFUL I feel when I see a movie about African or Mexican culture, or like a Bruce Lee movie, because there are no "white" heroes? Boo hoo!!! May we please represent our own heroes and European heritage without these people having hissy fits? And while I am at this, why does there have to be a "black" version of all the classic Anglo stories, eg, Cinderella, Wizard of OZ, etc?

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

Just have to jump in here... While Tolkien didn't flesh out the female characters, or give them as much attention as they are getting in the movie, the only area I have noticed where the movie has really strayed in this regard is with the love affair between Arwen and Aragorn... Galadriel is properly represented, don't you think? Arwen is stronger in the movie than in the book... Eowyn was VERY insulted by her portrayal in the Two Towers, and is hoping they tell her story straight in the Return of the King. (Havent seen it but will on New Years Eve !!! !!! !!! Now dont tell me anything!!) And also I was so disappointed they left out Goldberry and Bombadil--the Yin Yang force personified)

[ecurbh]

Ring Ping!!

There and Back Again: The Journeys of Flat Frodo

Anyone wishing to be added to or removed from the Ring-Ping list, please don't hesitate to let me know.

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't know about the Ghan Buri Ghan! - Have not heard a thing about them if they were included.

The Uruk-hai also too closely resemble Native Americans

You know... I can at least understand the comparison between the Mumakil Drivers and a human being of non-white ancestry... They did appear to be an African warrior race, especially linked with the "elephants". (sorry no pic available)

But for him to suggest the Uruk-hai resemble any race is about the most racist thing I have heard.

Uruk-Hai:

[Charles Henrickson]

The Uruk-hai are clearly thugs from the streets of Baltimore, er, Baltimordor.

New Orc City.

[Lil'freeper]

LOL- good one!

[expatguy]

Hrmm now that I think of it, the evil people in the movie were not represented well either.

[Alouette]

The Palestinians are based on the Orcs. And Sheik Yassin is based on Saruman. Isn't it obvious?

[Skywalk]

Actually, Arda itself is full of the precursors to Asian, Arab and black peoples. The Easterlings are never properly described, but they could be Asian in appearance. The Men of Harad are Arabic in appearance, language and garb and the men of Far Harad are black.

The key point is that either these peoples are too distant from this epic struggle, have been led astray by the deceptions of Sauron but are not innately evil or are merely jealous or covetous of Gondor and the West.

But even Tolkien addresses this when Sam looks at a dead Haradrim and wonders if the man were really wicked or was merely doing his duty or was threatened or lied to in order to force his allegiance.

In any event, there's nothing wrong with Men of the West being white in appearance(though I always thought of the Numenoreans looking like John Rhys-Davies, a young Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones(IOW, Welsh/Celtic)