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Post by gabriel on Jan 14, 2009 13:46:59 GMT -5
Really I think it's about what kind of environment you want to create. Tolkein had in mind the old Scandanavian and Anglo Sagas, so I think his world creates that atmosphere. I think Elves are silly, so I don't use them. Orcs, I think, are cool, not in the let's-go-drink-meade-and-have-a-blast type of cool, but a neat invention with which to express the aboiminidable nature of man, evil, etc.
But if that floats your boat, then use it. It's too cute for me, and I want to go for more extreme things, so I couldn't ever use it. I've had to create my own races with their own attitudes, cultures because they'll fit what I want to express. It could be limiting and too defined, but I don't know how to create limitless things.
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Post by JC Lamont on Feb 17, 2009 22:12:43 GMT -5
Wow, Divides, I had never thought of that, but you're exactly right. I just did a search of the word "black" in the NIV and the KJV and sure enough, the word is never used to describe sin. But "scarlet" and "crimson" are. However, people in today's American culture probably wouldn't get it if you called him "The Scarlet King." Sounds too much like "The Scarlet Letter." Maybe that fits, though... :-) The only thing with the Scarlet King though is that he doesn't wear scarlet, he wears gold -- and that sounds a bit cheesy: "The Gold King" Hmm, will have to think some more. |
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 18, 2009 0:14:09 GMT -5
I was thinking along these lines earlier today. I'm a sci-fi geek, but yeah, I enjoy the fantasy realm for its entertainment value. So to all you fantasy folk out there - and maybe this is too big a question to answer here - what is the history behind orcs, elves, dwarfs (a Sondheim song swears that it's "dwarfs," not "dwarves"), etc.? Was Tolkien the Creator...or does it reach far beyond that into myth and legend? Just curious.  |
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Post by J Jack on Feb 18, 2009 10:03:04 GMT -5
Tolkien created the orc, but they are based off the goblin, Uruk Hai are again his own little mind creature, true orcs if you will. The others are mythological, have always been really. They just haven't been called Elves or Dwarves/Dwarfs, we writer's have just changed how they're veiwed. Look at leprechauns, sirens, and so on. The basis for these creatures has always been laid, at least that's my opinion  I could be wrong, it happens. |
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 18, 2009 10:33:43 GMT -5
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Post by J Jack on Feb 18, 2009 10:36:20 GMT -5
I'm waiting for the hobbit movie  |
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 18, 2009 10:54:29 GMT -5
Well, yeah...who isn't? I have to admit the LotR movie trilogy was my first introduction to Tolkien. Well, aside from watching the Hobbit cartoon as a child and forever having a deep-set fear of Gollum. It took me a while to get all the different species straight. But now I can read about orcs and have some idea of what the writer was talking about. And elves no longer belong only at the North Pole. |
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Post by J Jack on Feb 18, 2009 16:48:18 GMT -5
Sometimes I still have nightmares about that old show, the most frightening thing a child could ever see, really. Now the things I watch are a million times worse, but back then, oh my it scared me witless.
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Post by torainfor on Feb 18, 2009 17:42:08 GMT -5
Do you mean the one with the funky half real/half animation? We also had the book and cassette tapes. The line, "I am not a man! Look upon Eowyn, Theoden's niece" will always be burned in my head.
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 18, 2009 17:52:13 GMT -5
I don't think I've seen that one. Isn't that LotR? The one I was referring to was the frightening purple-frog version of Gollum in the Hobbit cartoon. I think they carried over some of that animation for the LotR follow-up. But that's drawing on really old memories now... And sabre - I have the same problem with the old Oompa-Loompas from the Willy Wonka movie. To this day, I cringe when I hear them singing... I wait for the day when someone creates a horror version of that and the Loompas have fangs and eat the children... *shudders* |
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Post by J Jack on Feb 18, 2009 17:54:59 GMT -5
SO TRUE! I didn't even think about that, I make jokes to cover up the scars Oompa, loompa, doopa de do, eeeek man, run away. |
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 18, 2009 21:25:32 GMT -5
I'm glad to meet someone who shares my Oompa-Loompa-Phobia. |
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Post by Divides the Waters on Feb 19, 2009 0:32:02 GMT -5
I always thought the songs were catchy. But then I saw the new version, and Danny Elfman worked his magic. Those (I hate to admit) I find myself playing at louder-than-necessary volume.
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Post by duchessashley on Feb 19, 2009 10:59:11 GMT -5
Yeah, the new Loompas don't bother me as much. Maybe it's because it's all one guy and he looks like I could take him down if necessary. Plus, he played a sweet character in The Never-Ending Story. How could he be mean? |
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Post by koolteskip on Feb 19, 2009 11:09:23 GMT -5
I was thinking along these lines earlier today. I'm a sci-fi geek, but yeah, I enjoy the fantasy realm for its entertainment value. So to all you fantasy folk out there - and maybe this is too big a question to answer here - what is the history behind orcs, elves, dwarfs (a Sondheim song swears that it's "dwarfs," not "dwarves"), etc.? Was Tolkien the Creator...or does it reach far beyond that into myth and legend? Just curious. I'm not sure about orcs, but elves and dwarves(Tolkien threw a fit when an editor tried to make it dwarfs) are based off of Germanic mythology. One legend about elves that I've heard is that they were the "half-fallen angels," or those who did not take sides in the battle between God and Satan. Although there's a lot more: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElvesDwarves: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarves |
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I could be wrong, it happens.
