Eä Tolkien Society Meeting Notes for October 2017
Video from that meeting: (pending upload):
Eä Tolkien Society Meeting Notes for October 21, 2017
Attended: Corey, Chris, Richard, and Brian
1. Corey read Notes from September.
2. Discussion on the topics of the notes.
* CS Lewis biography by Alistair McGrath
* Lawhead to Arthurian legends to Japanese anime
* Taliesin bard character... focus in most of the lore is from a Latin perspective. Lawhead writes from a Celtic perspective (ancient British history).
* What did it mean that Lawhead was inspired by Tolkien’s “integrity of his work”.
* The chicken or the egg: Language or Culture first?
* Tolkien redefined the fantasy genre. Built a bridge between mythology/fairy tales and “modern fantasy”. Peter Jackson similarly redefined cinematic fantastic epics.
*definition of science fiction. Are Lewis’ books really science fiction?
* Brian: Reference “Of Other Worlds”. Sci-fi began 1920’s—flourished
* Chris: Popular Mechanics 1940’s...
* Science fiction/fantasy difference: could it be that Sci-fi is assumed that is materialistic worldview? Can’t have Lewis’ eldila spirits ruling over the planets.
* Brian: High fantasy not derivative work. So if primary world involved, or is grafted onto this world, then is not necessarily fantasy.
* Next month we will discuss the spectrum of science fiction to fantasy.
* Corey resumes reading notes after an extensive discussion! LOL
* Galadriel & the struggle of diminishing.
* Woses issue. Races corrupted/Tolkien’s view influenced by original sin. “Untainted people”. Is loss of innocence or incorruptibility to be judged on outward manifestation (fealty to Morgoth) or inward capability of sin?
2. Corey continues reading Lawhead essay. Page 161. Proposition: Art is a holy entity to itself. It’s an inherently godly form [as a Christian author] without having to refer explicitly to Jesus Christ. Freedom and responsibility. Art seeks to search, capture, and offer goodness, beauty, and truth. The high quest. Pure Art vs. Propaganda.
The path to the human heart is an old and thorny path. Tolkien came to his rescue! Avoiding twin horns of the dilemma. P. 163. Escapist. Surely! But to what? Tolkien set out to make his Art true. Lawhead agrees with us that Tolkien invented the heroic fantasy genre. The author..
N.T. Wright comment on Tolkien.