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

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

[MorningCoffee]

The deep thinkers at Indymedia have come to the conclusion that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy paints a "racist stereotypical tapestry" that does a disservice to young viewers everywhere.

Lloyd Hart says people of color are all associated with the Dark Lord Sauron in the movie and the elephant-riding mercenaries too closely resemble the cultures of Africa, Persia and East Asia. The Uruk-hai also too closely resemble Native Americans, which is sure to cause "a great deal of cultural and racial alienation."

[rickmichaels]

"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 and all the 'evil doers' are of dark skin?"

Like everyone else, they probably feel the overwhelming urge to pee.

[The G Man]

"i did hear from avid fans that the role of women in the story is played up quite a bit in the movies."

The role of Liv Tyler's character was played up quite a bit. IMO, it was a welcome improvement however. In the book you meet her character near the beginning and they allude to her and Aragorn being lovers and then ... nothing. You don't see or hear from her again until the very end when Aragorn assumed the throne. I thought it was a big weakness in the book myself and thought Jackson improved upon it by expanding her role. Just my 2 cents.

[Caipirabob]

Yeah, well I was offended by the fact that Aragorn was descent of Numenor, the great "Northern Kingdom" and the implicit suggestion that one day we will all be ruled by superior Eskimo Warriors.

[Sabertooth]

Lloyd Hart says people of color are all associated with the Dark Lord Sauron in the movie and the elephant-riding mercenaries too closely resemble the cultures of Africa, Persia and East Asia. The Uruk-hai also too closely resemble Native Americans, which is sure to cause "a great deal of cultural and racial alienation."

The fact that King Theoden, a white guy, calls his troops the "great warriors of the West" clinches it in Hart’s eyes.

Anyone know if Ghan Buri Ghan will be in the extended DVD of ROTK?

[BradyLS]

But.. but... The Lord of the Rings is a worldwide hit series!!!

[waverna]

Frodo, you broke my heart!

[xzins]

There should be a barf alert with this.

"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 and all the 'evil doers' are of dark skin," Hart writes.

They aren't "people." They are fantasy - different beings entirely: hobbits, elves, dwarves, men, orcs...etc.

[Charles Henrickson]

. . . all the 'evil doers' are of dark skin," Hart writes.

Like Saruman the White?!?

[xzins]

LOL.

[StoneColdGOP]

"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 and all the 'evil doers' are of dark skin," Hart writes.

If they're normal at all (which may be assuming a lot) they'll enjoy the hell out of it, just as I did.

I'll see "Return of the King" a third time next week, and it will be just as great as the first.

[evad]

they probably feel the overwhelming urge to pee.

Heh...a 3 1/2 hr movie will do that to ya.

[malakhi]

You have to see #16. ;o)

[The Shootist]

Perhaps this is because Tolkein wrote this at a time that the world looked to the "Warriors of the West" to rescue them from the axis powers.

Actually Tolkein denied this on many occasions. He held allegory in high disdain.

[highlander_UW]

Just proves one can force almost any interpretation into something if one squints their eyes just so and tries hard enough. A bigoted heart is more likely to see bigotry.

[StoneColdGOP]

Perhaps this is because Tolkein wrote this at a time that the world looked to the "Warriors of the West" to rescue them from the axis powers.

The same Axis Powers that were defeated in '45? I think the LOTR trilogy was published in the mid 50's.

[sweetliberty]

"The deep thinkers at Indymedia have come to the conclusion that the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy paints a "racist stereotypical tapestry" that does a disservice to young viewers everywhere."

Pound sand liberal pod people!

"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 and all the 'evil doers' are of dark skin,"

Who cares? If that's all they're thinking about after seeing any of these movies then they're too shallow to get it anyway.

[highlander_UW]

Please tell me this Chomsky stuff is a joke. It's too stupid to be real.

[Xenalyte]

Ping to see some people with absolutely nothing better to do.

[Xenalyte]

maybe it was the background role of women. the movies did make the effort to add more prominent female roles than the books.

That's the only objection I have to the movies - in that regard, they're not staying true to the books. Let's face it . . . Tolkien didn't write meaty roles for women. I've come to terms with it. (Besides, Eowyn could kick Arwen all over Rohan and then some.)

[Liberal Classic]

Yes, it's a parody. ;)