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Lady eowyn

It's an interesting array of faces. Would definitely watch! Though I must admit I don't recognise too many of the actors - result of me not watching a great number of films.

Cast some main characters with POC actors? Yes, please. I'd like to see this version.
Retell the story with a female Gandalf? Sure, I would watch it.

Lon Kra Con mentions Shakespeare. For example, The Tempest is a great play, but apart from naive virtuous Miranda and off-stage antagonist witch Sycorax, pretty much the whole play is men interacting with men only. The 2010 film adaptation with a Prospera instead of a Prospero as main character, played by Helen Mirren, was enjoyable to watch and interesting. (Actor playing Caliban still the only POC in this version. Would be even more difficult to change as the Shakespeare play has colonialism as one of its themes.)

Always supposing we won't have to discuss whether female wizards have beards... :D

Lindon-rivendell

Tatarica wrote:In today's world, movies have a tendencies to diverge from the original envisionment of the Author. It happens because of current shifts in mentality of the movie consumers, the target audience for any movie.

You may have seen many a number of recent movies that were partially, if not fully, recasted with female (lead) actors for roles that were male in the original. But also to incorporate other races or minorities, basically be fully or as much politically correct. I am not going to number the dozens of big-name movies of recent years, we all know who they are. Some had big success, some had moderate success, some failed; the reasons why are not necessary to be debated here.

Casting Gandalf as a female falls into that category. Obviously that's just a recasting idea and not something actually thought of to be a real deal. Changing the gender of someone from a printed book / story is not something I personally like or want to see, but there are others that view things with other eyes, and, generally, when it comes to movies, its a fine line between pleasing the genre-watchers, the fans-of-the-book-watchers, the casual-watchers and the politically-correct-watchers. You may lose one viewer here but gain 5 more there, and in the end its all about the money or the good press for the movie companies.

Obviously, that's just a hypothetical discussion.

Later edit: The works of Tolkien are really not so politically-correct, they have enough racism to go around (I talk here mainly about Men, Dwarves and Orcs). And the movies did a great job at making these issues more politically-correct (even the latter Hobbit movies portrayed Dwarves in a more positive manner than the book)

I mean i get the race changes, but isn't female gandalf little bit much?
I can live with Female Legolas, cause Felicity Jones will be the reason of joy.
I can also live with female gandalf, but i will avoid saying my opinion on the genderswap, but i think if they keep the basic story i'm okay

Lindon-rivendell

To lesser the tension
can we just appreciate the work of these people: https://www.mcmiddleearth.com/

and these ones aswell:
https://lotrminecraftmod.fandom.com



The LOTR Nation of Tatarica

Lindon-rivendell wrote:I mean i get the race changes, but isn't female gandalf little bit much?

The main focal point about female Gandalf is surely about how to adapt the character and the character traits in the book with the version on-screen. I too am unsure about imagining an old female Gandalf with her pipe and her beard (after all, what are wizards without beards?), but I know quite a few of female actresses of that age that did amazing work portraying old sages full of wisdom in whichever movies they played in. So I am slightly reticent about genderswaps when it comes to old actors, but I definitely would love to see how it works to have a more mother-figure Maia rather than a male Maia as a Wizard imparting wisdom of old.

Lindon-rivendell wrote:To lesser the tension
can we just appreciate the work of these people: https://www.mcmiddleearth.com/

and these ones aswell:
https://lotrminecraftmod.fandom.com

The world of Minecraft is something I never played in (I did check a few youtube videos here and there), but I know that its an amazing place to build, as long as you like your world pixelated. I've heard of many real-world constructs, but seeing the images of the Middle Earth locations created in the game does bring me joy. Amazing stuff! It does involve a great deal of dedication, so kudos to them!

Lindon-rivendell

Tatarica wrote:The world of Minecraft is something I never played in (I did check a few youtube videos here and there), but I know that its an amazing place to build, as long as you like your world pixelated. I've heard of many real-world constructs, but seeing the images of the Middle Earth locations created in the game does bring me joy. Amazing stuff! It does involve a great deal of dedication, so kudos to them!

yes! both of those communities exist about for 10 years! it's crazy!

via Lothlorien

The Queendom of Lady Galadriel

Unspeakable, terrible puns. Tookfoolery. Dwarrowdelf-deep daftness. Look at your own peril.
page=poll/p=168969



The LOTR Nation of Tatarica

Lady Galadriel wrote:Unspeakable, terrible puns. Tookfoolery. Dwarrowdelf-deep daftness. Look at your own peril.
page=poll/p=168969

Terrible indeed! And dangerous! Hope you don't make a Hobbit out of this, Lady Galadriel!

The Precious of Smeagollum

Lady Galadriel wrote:Unspeakable, terrible puns. Tookfoolery. Dwarrowdelf-deep daftness. Look at your own peril.
page=poll/p=168969

Propagandalf is worse

Lindon-rivendell

Smeagollum wrote:Propagandalf is worse

yes, very true

The Lonely Tree Shepherds of Lon Kra Con

Timber woodchipping industry? How barbaric! We ents will not allow such a thing in our borders.

Ents

Lindon-rivendell

Lon Kra Con wrote:Timber woodchipping industry? How barbaric! We ents will not allow such a thing in our borders.

We chip only the old ones

via 10000 Islands

S mova derat

Hello.

The LOTR Nation of Tatarica

Lon Kra Con wrote:Timber woodchipping industry? How barbaric! We ents will not allow such a thing in our borders.

Lindon-rivendell wrote:We chip only the old ones

Ohh the old and frail ones, them old Ents that are too slow to escape the whilring axes of the woodcutter? Quite evil if you ask me!

S mova derat wrote:Hello.

Greetings and salutations to you!

March of Maedhros, Lon Kra Con, and S mova derat

Lindon-rivendell

Tatarica wrote:Ohh the old and frail ones, them old Ents that are too slow to escape the whilring axes of the woodcutter? Quite evil if you ask me!

Greetings and salutations to you!

NOT ENTS AND HUORNS!
ONLY TREES THAT WOULD FALL SOON!

The Humble Dwelling of Bombadil

Lindon-rivendell wrote:NOT ENTS AND HUORNS!
ONLY TREES THAT WOULD FALL SOON!

Well leave Old Man Willow out of it too, he's too much fun.

Lindon-rivendell

Bombadil wrote:Well leave Old Man Willow out of it too, he's too much fun.

he IS a huorn!
But a dark one...
sadly...
he could've been our friend....

Lindon-rivendell

Lady Galadriel wrote:Unspeakable, terrible puns. Tookfoolery. Dwarrowdelf-deep daftness. Look at your own peril.
page=poll/p=168969

look in the comments, now i have to go to the store to buy cranberries, because i ate 'em all

via Lothlorien

The Queendom of Lady Galadriel

Lindon-rivendell wrote:look in the comments, now i have to go to the store to buy cranberries, because i ate 'em all

Comment thread is a gold mine of I don't know what.

BERRY old friends
https://imgur.com/ATijwFS

Clamdalf
https://imgur.com/Lzu1lTw

Gandalorian
https://imgur.com/q02mn0c

AAAIIIIIIIII undignified giggling

Lindon-rivendell

Lady Galadriel wrote:Comment thread is a gold mine of I don't know what.

BERRY old friends
https://imgur.com/ATijwFS

Clamdalf
https://imgur.com/Lzu1lTw

Gandalorian
https://imgur.com/q02mn0c

AAAIIIIIIIII undignified giggling

1. Yummy
2. NO
BAD
CURSED(reference to hermitcraft)
3. This is the way;
But all very funny



The LOTR Nation of Tatarica

A bit longer than a month ago I wrote about something I stumbled upon online, regarding the dwarf beards. I'd like to reiterate it again since I am interested in an answer.

Do you believe that the concept of beards for dwarves (both for male and female!) and their pride over the beards has an in-world reason because the beards can act as a filter against dust or other fine particles that if inhaled can pose serious health risks? Considering the vast amount of underground / under-mountain work the dwarves do, including, but not limited to, mining.

The Elven Realm of March of Maedhros

Tatarica wrote:

Do you believe that the concept of beards for dwarves (both for male and female!) and their pride over the beards has an in-world reason because the beards can act as a filter against dust or other fine particles that if inhaled can pose serious health risks? Considering the vast amount of underground / under-mountain work the dwarves do, including, but not limited to, mining.

It's an interesting idea and can't say it is impossible. Would you propose that they are aware of the beards' filtering ability or is it a subconscious thing. If it is the latter I would be skeptical because it is starting to sound like evolutionary biology and I don't know if Tolkien would be thinking that way. I will say that it says in the Silmarillion that "Aule made the Dwarves even as they still are".

The other thing to consider is whether or not Aule had a beard and if he created them in his image. I took a quick peak around, and all images of Aule have a beard but I don't see it stated anywhere in the Silmarillion that he definitely has one. It also doesn't state that he made the dwarves in his image, but I would say that it is a likely since only Eru can truly create new beings and Aule could only create something new from what he knew. Additionally, if Aule has a beard, then I believe, with some certainty, that his beard is not for filtering purposes since he is a valar and I doubt that he can fall victim to respiratory illness caused by small particles.
If this is the case, that Aule has a beard and that he created the dwarves to have beards because he has one, then I would say that reason that the dwarves take pride in their beards is not because of their filter-function and that they are purely aesthetic/cultural.

That being said, I do not rule out a coincidence, but the Dwarves do "suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more hardily than all other speaking peoples". So perhaps it is quite unlikely.

The Eastern Kingdom of Dwarven Mines

Tatarica wrote:A bit longer than a month ago I wrote about something I stumbled upon online, regarding the dwarf beards. I'd like to reiterate it again since I am interested in an answer.

Do you believe that the concept of beards for dwarves (both for male and female!) and their pride over the beards has an in-world reason because the beards can act as a filter against dust or other fine particles that if inhaled can pose serious health risks? Considering the vast amount of underground / under-mountain work the dwarves do, including, but not limited to, mining.

Well talking about experience beards do act as a filter, whether that be dust, snow, or the sun. Taking this into account, dwarves living under the mountains, rocks and earth in general the beard will actually serve as a sun blocker and the beard do protect the neck from wind and chill. Beard helps to keep warm in cold weather. Also keeping the beard combed and groomed denotes a certain lifestyle - if you eat badly it shows in your hair and beard too-.

Going through the inspiration part, talking about actual history in this case: many dwarves in acient nordic historys (in which Tolkien was inspired by the names but did not in their culture) describe the dwarves -dvegar- as been too pale beacause of the fact of living underground and to have human size. Also sunlight causes their death, so they used long hairs and beards to cover their body.

In the Middle Ages most of the Germanic and after christianization of the Germanic tribes, the sagas pictured the dwarves as being short and bearded. Their were describe them as lesser an magical beings, that practiced the art of blacksmithing without any equal.
Islamic Indian folks stories described the dwarves as naked bearded pygmy like beings that were good in trade and craftmanship, whom took great pride in the way the decored their beards;
flaunting wealth.

The beard in indo-european cultures has been always been asocieted with wiseness, maturity and magic.

So taking this into account, it seems to me that in dwarf culture, the beard ranges from a way of surviving the elements formerly in Durin's time, to social position and a life status when the seven houses were erected.

Lindon-rivendell

Tatarica wrote:A bit longer than a month ago I wrote about something I stumbled upon online, regarding the dwarf beards. I'd like to reiterate it again since I am interested in an answer.

Do you believe that the concept of beards for dwarves (both for male and female!) and their pride over the beards has an in-world reason because the beards can act as a filter against dust or other fine particles that if inhaled can pose serious health risks? Considering the vast amount of underground / under-mountain work the dwarves do, including, but not limited to, mining.

FEMALES WITH MUSTACHES?
MUMBONI-MACORONI!
*turns his head in disbelief*

Lindon-rivendell

Dwarven Mines wrote:Well talking about experience beards do act as a filter, whether that be dust, snow, or the sun. Taking this into account, dwarves living under the mountains, rocks and earth in general the beard will actually serve as a sun blocker and the beard do protect the neck from wind and chill. Beard helps to keep warm in cold weather. Also keeping the beard combed and groomed denotes a certain lifestyle - if you eat badly it shows in your hair and beard too-.

Going through the inspiration part, talking about actual history in this case: many dwarves in acient nordic historys (in which Tolkien was inspired by the names but did not in their culture) describe the dwarves -dvegar- as been too pale beacause of the fact of living underground and to have human size. Also sunlight causes their death, so they used long hairs and beards to cover their body.

In the Middle Ages most of the Germanic and after christianization of the Germanic tribes, the sagas pictured the dwarves as being short and bearded. Their were describe them as lesser an magical beings, that practiced the art of blacksmithing without any equal.
Islamic Indian folks stories described the dwarves as naked bearded pygmy like beings that were good in trade and craftmanship, whom took great pride in the way the decored their beards;
flaunting wealth.

The beard in indo-european cultures has been always been asocieted with wiseness, maturity and magic.

So taking this into account, it seems to me that in dwarf culture, the beard ranges from a way of surviving the elements formerly in Durin's time, to social position and a life status when the seven houses were erected.

I also think he was inspired by beduins of arabia, they had ginormous beards opposing the town folks

The LOTR Nation of Tatarica

Thank you all very much for your contributions / answers regarding my question.

The inspiration source(s) for the dwarves physical shape do seem to represent them fairly, with many traits to choose from when creating the race. And about the actual in-world rationale for why dwarves are like that, I believe that March of Maedhros nailed it, they must be the split image of their creator, Aule, and such any traits they have could not have been an evolution trait.

This raises some questions ... firstly, for me, the whole "creation" by any of the 8 Holy Ones of Arda; Yavanna could create plants through song and some Vala are associated with animals (like Manwe creating the Eagles through song, I believe) although many of the animals could have been created directly by Eru. Surely, it is believed that they lacked fea (the soul, or we can even say sentience), but then again, fea is created by the flame imperishable or the secret fire, and all Vala have a part of it in them (given by Eru when he created them). That is why they can individually give sentience to particular beings, like the werewolf Carcharoth (who was a puppy wolf that was given a part of Melkor's soul / fire to gain sentience and be evil) or even the dragons Glaurung and Ancalagon (and later versions like Smaug who was not created directly by Morgoth), who could speak and understand and even corrupt or confuse other beings (I'm thinking here about the battle between Turin and Glaurung).
And this is why Morgoth is so much weaker at the end of the First Age than in their beginning when he was the most powerful of all of the 8, since he gave part of his flame imperishable into his wicked creations.

I am torn on the subject about creating something new. On the one hand, Morgoth is said to have perverted other animals that have already been sung into existence at the beginning of creation, but on the other hand, Yavanna did have a direct help in creating new lifeless beings. So where Aule fit here is a bit confusing for me, since he created lifeless creatures (his dwarves), he did not want to give them a part of his flame imperishable so they remained without fea or soul until Eru gave some of his flame and made them sentient.

I am also unsure about if Aule was able to create something new only in his image, although I like this and I kinda support it. But it means that Aule was short in stature compared to the other Vala, and maybe a bit bulky? Unsure if its easier or more complicated to create a miniature version of yourself. Moreover, I am fairly confident that Aule could have created something new in the image of his peers, like he looked at Manwe and created a Dwarf in his image. Like having 8-9 fair dwarves as his creation; meaning that all Vala have beards, including Yavanna!

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