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PaperclipPerfector  1yr ago (text post)   29623 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of October 2, 2023

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Actually Lord of the Rings did have a character who was demoralized and ready to surrender in Denethor. https://youtube.com/watch?v=b7MCVm4XISc That attitude was treated by the protagonists with contempt which spoke of an important truth. Even greater truth is found in the scene were the advisor Wormtongue who has corrupted king Theoden is banished. Truly magnificent. Also wonderful to see Theoden from a sad shell of a leader returning to a noble king of men. https://youtube.com/watch?v=iQExgALv9wI

And that work spawned a genre known as "high fantasy". It's called "fantasy" for a reason. In reality, there's no author ensuring the ultimate victory of the protagonists.

How many artists these days are transgressive about the dominant established values of thought?

Essentially none. They often claim to be, but usually they're "transgressing" against the right, which hasn't been transgressive in decades. At most they're doing 50-stalins ultraprogressiveness.

Well, the left started from a weaker point and became more dominant because of faith to themselves and their ideology.

So did Christianity. Another word of more negative hue could be fanaticism and there can be a negative side to it. It is still an important truth that conviction matters and can lead to victory. Even in some cases from an underdog position. Especially if you have more conviction than your opponent and want it more.

In reality, faith is no guarantee of success, but without faith you got nothing. The blackpilled path you preach for leads nowhere. Better to strive for what is good both for pragmatic effects, and because it is a more honorable and just way to live.

Also, is it possible you are promoting the easy way out? If things are hopeless then it does justify doing nothing, after all. But this easy way outs eats at one's soul because deep down they know they could have done better.

Essentially none. They often claim to be, but usually they're "transgressing" against the right, which hasn't been transgressive in decades. At most they're doing 50-stalins ultraprogressiveness.

There are some who align more with conservatism, or are hostile to the establishment even in the current political environment. Those who self censor might be more.

I do think most artists fall in line though in general.

In addition to the left becoming the establishment, doesn't this have something to do with the left's greater zealotry? Its part of what makes the establishment, the establishment and help define the zeltgeist. Essentially its a self fulfilling prophecy to be demoralized, which leads to further loss and more demoralization.

In reality, there's no author ensuring the ultimate victory of the protagonists.

Psalm 68:1, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien and indeed most of the world, to this day and since essentially forever would pretty strongly disagree with this proposition.

I dislike what the movies did with Denethor (I understand the choices being made and why Jackson made them, but I still dislike them). It changed book Denethor into a caricature; it weakened the character. But there was need for easy villains so Denethor and Wormtongue fit those roles. I also wasn't too happy with how they treated Brad Dourif, who I think is a good enough actor to convey Grima's evil without needing to be made up like "greasy incel creepy guy nobody would ever trust". Part of that character is that he looked and acted the part of the wise, responsible councillor which is how he was able to worm (ha!) his way into Theoden's confidence and why the rest of the court didn't rise up against him.

But that's personal aesthetic and artistic choices.

who I think is a good enough actor to convey Grima's evil without needing to be made up like "greasy incel creepy guy nobody would ever trust"

Yeah, I found that bit very weird too, how was it that all of Rohan wasn't able to see what an utter slimebag this dude looked like and allowed him to rise up the ranks and become the most trusted advisor of the king just like that?

At least the MTG card was better done, which is not something you can say for Theoden or even Galadriel.

Denethor and Aragorn were in the books similar people. The difference seems to be that Aragorn was rightfully the king and Denethor was not but had the desire (the will to power). Yet both wanted Gondor to succeed.

It's called "fantasy" for a reason. In reality, there's no author ensuring the ultimate victory of the protagonists.

Reminds me of the Tolkien vs Martin rap battle. Isn't one of the reasons art should show unrealistic victory to inspire people in real life to make some similarly hopeless attempts that occasionally do result in victory?

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