Posted on 12/26/2001 8:35:02 AM PST by massadvj
As I lurk about the various topics here on Free Republic I have noticed a paradox that I think I can explain, but I'm not sure. The paradox is this. Currently, there are two mainstream movies out about magic and sorcery: Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. I have noticed that Freepers of the right wing Christian persuasion have lambasted Harry Potter for causing young folks to believe in sorcery and witchcraft; and also possibly causing hair to grow on one's palms. On the other hand, the praise for Lord of the Rings seems to be universal, in spite of the fact that it, too, features sorcery and the like. The question is why.
Personally, I liked both movies. Lord of the Rings was the better flick, in my opinion, because of its fantastic scope and special effects. Also, Lord of the Rings was a better story, which is where the question of the paradox comes in. If you think about it, Lord of the Rings is filled with Christian symbolism. One devil, the ring (original sin), a savior, there is even a resurrection at one point. So the movie appeals to Christian sensibilities at an unconscious level. This is nothing new to movies. Take a look at E.T. the Extra-Terrestial or The Abyss for two more obvious examples of tugging at Christian heartstrings.
Harry Potter, on the other hand, is more "New Agey" and relativistic, which rigid Christians find irreverent. And so, Potter gets slimed while Lord gets lauded.
That's my take, anyway. I'd be interested to hear whether others think this hypothesis of mine has any credibility. So flame away.
Monster, Inc. is a far better movie.
Really -- my take is that certain people (who post here)think HP teaches magic
Frankly, I'm surprised that those I call religious intolerant Born Again Christians aren't raving against LOTR as much as Harry Potter. After all, The Hobbit and LOTR are the foundation for Dungeons and Dragons (and other fantasy role playing games) something which nearly drove them to madness with their ranting and raving back when I was a teenager. We were all going to be drawn into cults and witchcraft by playing D&D. Guess what, it didn't happen. It was entertainment, diversion .... nothing more. Although I still have friendships with the people I played D&D with back in those days, isn't that a good thing?
To me, when it comes down to it, both movies are fantasy/fiction/imagination and both have the same theme, good fighting evil and evil losing in the end. However, some people can see the nefarious and Satanic in anything, after all, isn't the Social Security # we all have, the mark of the Beast to more than a few Christians?
In addition the 'wizards' in LOTR are clearly meant to represent angelic beings sent from God, one of which has become evil, and another has turned away from his duties, leaving only Galdalf following the will of 'God'. Actually there are 2 other 'wizards', but they are way off in the distance, and apparently not involved.
Tolkien believed that truth could be conveyed through myth. So, he set out to write a myth of epic proportions, and have his plot guided by truth -- truth in an ultimate spiritual sense. The idea of good vs. evil is obvious, but less obvious are lessons such as: the weakness and hence corruptibility of of the human heart; the idea that "even the smallest of persons can change the world" (as Galadrial told Frodo); the value and strength of true friendship, and true friends; the belief that no matter how difficult a situation or a path, there is a benevolent power that guides all of our paths; the idea that ultimate power can only be wielded for good by the most humble (the point of the book and movie that only a humble hobbit, the least assuming of creatures in Middle Earth, can carry the burden of Ringbearer without being corrupted by the power of it); the parallel truth that only the humble are best suited to possess power; the idea (which is greatly needed in our day) that sacrifice is necessary if evil is to be confronted, but there is a nobility even when evil momentarily overcomes good.
Not to ruin it for those who have only seen the movie, but have never read the books, but in "The Two Towers," there is a resurrection (and did anyone else notice that as Gandalf fell into the depths of Moria, he fell in the image of a cross?).
"Harry Potter" was a good movie, but it lacked any communication of truth. The wizards and witches of Hogwarts wield power, but to what end? For what are Harry and his classmates in training? Do wizards exist in Harry Potter's world for some great purpose? Do the exist to benefit mankind, or as agents of some Higher Power for the betterment of the world? It's never clear. It appears that "Harry Potter" possesses power for power's sake; unlike "Lord of the Rings," where power is used as part of a titanic struggle to defeat an all-consuming evil; and yet the possession of power is dangerous, and is not to be coveted (unlike in "Harry Potter").
I almost hate to contrast "Potter" with "LOTRs" because, in truth, there is no comparison. "Harry Potter" was written as a clever story for commercial purposes. "Lord of the Rings" was written as a means of conveying truth. Therein is the greatness of Tolkien's mythology, and weakness of "Potter."
Not entirely true. Frodo "uses" the invisibility conferred by the Ring to escape Boromir. Bilbo used the Ring regularly for 60 years, obviously with some side effects. And Gandalf uses magic constantly.
Frankly, I think people who claim Tolkien portrayed magic itself as evil haven't read the books very closely. Magic itself is portrayed as rather ordinary, much as we view technology today. Some can use it more effectively than others, but nobody promotes the idea that all magic is inherently evil.
Magic is portrayed as a tool, which can be used for good or evil, in most cases, as (almost) any tool can. The exception is the Ring, which cannot be used except with evil as the result. (And of course those of the other Rings which have been corrupted by it.)
Sauron and Saruman are evil not because they use magic, but because they use magic for evil. Saruman worked with magic for thousands of years before turning to evil, due originally to a desire to gain more power to do good. The desire to dominate (for whatever reason) is what is truly evil.
Actually, Tolkien has a very libertarian/anarchistic side.
In about the same way as Christianity is the foundation for Islam, so what?
HP encourages children to believe that there are short cuts for the special few who are non-muggles (did i spell that right?). in one sense, HP becomes a recruiting tool for the democratic party since it gives unsuccessful kids a cosmology where they can view their failures as consequences of their birth as non-achievers (i.e., muggles). The fault is not in themselves or in their choices, its in their blood.
I know what you're trying to say, but, frankly, "Harry Potter" isn't deep enough, or complex enough, or profound enough to attract "geeks," as you call them. "Harry Potter's" power is the power of "the latest fad."
BTW, the premise that kids read more as a result of the Harry Potter series is bogus.
Parents that read and read to their children, develop kids that read
Lord of the Rings presents all magic as the evil that it is, while Potter makes the absurd pretense that there can be good magic. By doing so it leads directly to the embrace of evil. - It provides 'good' that does not come from God.
LotR bashing however, on the part of the religious faction, would start huge flame wars and I believe, by and large, the religious group of FR is far more considerate than to fan such flames.
This information is gained from a closer reading of "Lord of the Rings" (it's not clear from the movie), and from other writings of Tolkein.
For a definitive discussion, see the book "The Tolkien Companion" (a book which discusses various characters, places, and things from Tolkien's works). Look up "Wizards" and learn truth of what Tolkien meant them to be.
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