Found this over on TORn. Tought that it might be useful...

Tolkien scholar Amy H. Sturgis, Ph.D.: http://www.amyhsturgis.com

Lecture: "Harry Potter is a Hobbit: The Tolkien Solution to the Rowling Problem"
J.K. Rowling draws fire from cultural critics and laypersons alike: her works rank among the most challenged books of the last decade due to their supposedly mature content, and yet highly visible reviewers consistently poke fun at their allegedly juvenile nature. A question emerges from these disparate but repeated lines of attack: if children cannot handle dark and serious issues such as death, and adults should not enjoy such childish and light pleasures as fantasy stories, who if anyone is the proper audience for the Harry Potter series? According to J.R.R. Tolkien, the solution to this dilemma lies not in discovering a new category of readers, but rather in dismissing the false assumptions about childhood, adulthood, and the nature of fantasy that inform the question. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she uses Tolkien's insights to propose a solution to Rowling’s problem of readership and a lasting answer to her critics

http://www.theonering.net/perl/newsview/8/1169399065

Eandme, what a lovely post. It's so heartening for me to hear how someone was moved by the movies. I found my life changed through the book, so it's so encouraging to know that something about the power of Tolkien's vision made it onto the screen and into people's hearts. Best wishes to you! I look forward to your report. :k

Txtac, your post talks to one of my key gripes with our segmented, compartmentalized approach to literature, music, you name it. I'll never forgot a book tour I took to Ireland a few years ago. I was talking to one of the authors, and she was astounded that there was such a thing as "children's" and "adult" literature in the USA. (She writes what we would call YA, Young Adult, over here.) She said, "Why don't you let children read whatever they want to read? If it's beyond them, they'll just put the book down."

Hah! Sensible words. But the marketing people don't see things that way. It's a harm to literature as well. If I say Stephen King, you'll think "horror", but that's not true. He writes mysteries and science fiction and speculative fiction and drama-- it's just he's a big enough name to get away with it. "Jumping genres" is not something that a publisher knows how to deal with, so they often don't publish those books. Everyone is used to thinking in these little boxes, they don't even realize how constricted their vision is.

Ahem! *puts away soapbox * slinks off*

* Stands up on Mariole's soapbox *

Mariole- Chaulk it up to our 'Puritanical' heritage. America was not founded on religious freedoms, but on "we want to practice our religion our way without interference from you..." Those early men who thought that it was their duty and obligation to protect you from yourself, evil and the devils handi-work, built pretty restrictive communities based on their beliefs of God, morals, ethics, how to lead a goodly life and save you from sin and the devils way. Those societies built a lasting culture of traditions that we still have to some extent in our society today.

Today, religious leaders, philosophers and english professors still have a problem with it. I still haven't recieved a good definition yet from any literature prefessor on what the definition of 'literature' really is. The closest thing said was "Good literature is that which touches our heart and mind (or heart and soul)."

Ask any elementery school teacher about literature for kids. Different age groups have the ability to understand more - or less - of a books content. Some books are better at it than others. That is why Ol' Yeller and The Red Fern are still read in class today. The concept is if you want to teach reading to children, give them 'good' literature. Give them something that will touch their heart and soul. Get them 'hooked' on reading. No one wants to read bad literature, but good literature is a joy to read. Some of the people on this board have read the book Everything is Illuminated. Most have read The Lord of the Rings. Which book was a 'better' read? Could a seven, or eight year old get through Alex's broken English and still understand the storyline, or the intent and meaning behind it?

Psychology vs. Intellect what it is, the powers that be have decided to save the children from the horrors of reality. Let the children be children. Let their lives be filled with love and laughter for as long as possible. The horrors of life will be upon them soon enough. What I wouldn't give to hear an ongoing discussion between J.R.R.Tolkien and Joseph Campbell. The lady who said "let the children read what they want. If they don't understand it, they will put it down" was partially correct. Children will not stay interested in something that they can not understand, or enjoy doing. American First Ammendment Rights as they are, there are some things that I think children should wait to read until they are more mature. Pornography is one that comes to mind. Teenagers have a hard enough time trying to control raging hormones. They do not need to get any ideas from reading, or watching porn. Not until they are older and can control the baser instincts and have a better understanding of what culture/society/traditions accept as 'the norm.' The children who live in a more violent neighborhood, or society do not need to read graphic novels about killing and death. They have a hard enough time living in their day-to-day world as it is. They do not need to get/read any 'how to' ideas to make their lives 'better', or worse.

The written word is one of the most powerfull things yet invented by man. It can communicate the most simplest and the most complex of thoughts. It can heal, spread love and joy and it can also bring harm, death and destruction. The pen is mightier than the sword, but the sword will chop up the pen every time. We as humankind have had the written word for over 4,000 years. We haven't learned anything yet. Who then is to save us from ourselves? The original Faerie Tales, were simple, interesting, engaging stories that taught morals and ethics. The Lord of the Rings was written to prove that a good tale could still be told. With all of it's complexities and ability to wrap us up in the characters lives, it is still a morals-ethics tale of good vs. bad. The 'good-guy' wins, the 'villian' dies and the hero sails off into the sunset. As was pointed out earlier, the interest is waning. What's next?

I suspect that the reason we designate certain books as "children's literature" has a lot more to do with wanting to encourage literacy. What if some kid picked up Everything is Illuminated, decided they couldn't make sense of it, and stopped trying to read altogether? Despite what Stephen King says, there are really no Library Police, and a sufficiently clever kid could wander over to the other section of the library, and pick up Ray Bradbury if he wants to.

I'll further add that I'm a christian who's read both J.K. Rowling and Stephen King, and enjoyed them. (Some of us do manage to think for ourselves! :eek: ) I don't know how to define "literature," but I know it when I see it. For me King comes awfully near it when in the short form, but Rowling has a long way to go.

But that's just my opinion.

To bring this back on topic, I'm glad that there are pro-literacy prorgrams here in America. (Less freedom loving countries have killed their scholars so they won't have to be bothered by anyone getting ideas. :rolleyes: ) and I'm glad the the actor we're here to celebrate has involved himself in volunteering with pro-literacy campaigns.

honey~

Nominee List
Associated Press - Jan 23, 06:00

Complete list of the 79th Annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in Beverly Hills, Calif.:

1. Best Picture: "Babel," "The Departed," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Queen."

2. Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond"; Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson"; Peter O'Toole, "Venus"; Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness"; Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland."

3. Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Volver"; Judi Dench, "Notes on a Scandal"; Helen Mirren, "The Queen"; Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada"; Kate Winslet, "Little Children."

4. Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children"; Djimon Hounsou, "Blood Diamond"; Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls"; Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed."

5. Supporting Actress: Adriana Barraza, "Babel"; Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal"; Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls"; Rinko Kikuchi, "Babel."

6. Directing: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, "Babel"; Martin Scorsese, "The Departed"; Clint Eastwood, "Letters From Iwo Jima"; Stephen Frears, "The Queen"; Paul Greengrass, "United 93."

7. Foreign Language Film: "After the Wedding," Denmark; "Days of Glory (Indigenes)," Algeria; "The Lives of Others," Germany; "Pan's Labyrinth," Mexico; "Water," Canada.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Sacha Baron Cohen and Anthony Hines and Peter Baynham and Dan Mazer and Todd Phillips, "Borat Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan"; Alfonso Cuaron and Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby, "Children of Men"; William Monahan, "The Departed"; Todd Field and Tom Perrotta, "Little Children"; Patrick Marber, "Notes on a Scandal."

9. Original Screenplay: Guillermo Arriaga, "Babel"; Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis, "Letters From Iwo Jima"; Michael Arndt, "Little Miss Sunshine"; Guillermo del Toro, "Pan's Labyrinth"; Peter Morgan, "The Queen."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Cars," "Happy Feet," "Monster House."

11. Art Direction: "Dreamgirls," "The Good Shepherd," "Pan's Labyrinth," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "The Prestige."

12. Cinematography: "The Black Dahlia," "Children of Men," "The Illusionist," "Pan's Labyrinth," "The Prestige."

13. Sound Mixing: "Apocalypto," "Blood Diamond," "Dreamgirls," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

14. Sound Editing: "Apocalypto," "Blood Diamond," "Flags of Our Fathers," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest."

15. Original Score: "Babel," Gustavo Santaolalla; "The Good German," Thomas Newman; "Notes on a Scandal," Philip Glass; "Pan's Labyrinth," Javier Navarrete; "The Queen," Alexandre Desplat.

16. Original Song: "I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth," Melissa Etheridge; "Listen" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler and Anne Preven; "Love You I Do" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger and Siedah Garrett; "Our Town" from "Cars," Randy Newman; "Patience" from "Dreamgirls," Henry Krieger and Willie Reale.

17. Costume: "Curse of the Golden Flower," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Dreamgirls," "Marie Antoinette," "The Queen."

18. Documentary Feature: "Deliver Us From Evil," "An Inconvenient Truth," " Iraq in Fragments," "Jesus Camp," "My Country, My Country."

19. Documentary (short subject): "The Blood of Yingzhou District," "Recycled Life," "Rehearsing a Dream," "Two Hands."

20. Film Editing: "Babel," "Blood Diamond," "Children of Men," "The Departed," "United 93."

21. Makeup: "Apocalypto," "Click," "Pan's Labyrinth."

22. Animated Short Film: "The Danish Poet," "Lifted," "The Little Matchgirl," "Maestro," "No Time for Nuts."

23. Live Action Short Film: "Binta and the Great Idea (Binta Y La Gran Idea)," "Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)," "Helmer & Son," "The Saviour," " West Bank Story."

24. Visual Effects: "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," "Poseidon," "Superman Returns."

Academy Award winners previously announced this year:

HONORARY AWARD (Oscar statuette): Ennio Morricone

JEAN HERSHOLT HUMANITARIAN AWARD (Oscar statuette): Sherry Lansing

http://oscars.movies.yahoo.com/news/associatedpress/20070123/1020.html
* The song from Happy Feet that was getting some press earlier looks like it was shut out by the Dreamgirls music. They recieved three noms. :mad:

*Bobby got shut out completely ! :eek: :( :mad:
_________________________________________________________________

The RAZZIE Award Nominations for the WORST in 2006 are out. You can see the list here: http://www.razzies.com/history/27thNoms.asp
The Awards will be awarded on February 24th, the day before the Oscars. :p

Thank God that Elijah didn't make the list this year. :) I thought that he might get hit for 'Worst Singing' in Happy Feet, or his 'Non-Acting' in Bobby.
_________________________________________________________________

Honey wrote: ...has involved himself in volunteering with pro-literacy campaigns.
Yes, but that was also focused on 'Childrens Literature.'
I would like to see him do 'dramatic readings' for Books on Tape for an adult themed book. He is of age now. He needs to start showing it.

Honey [/B] wrote:
Yes, but that was also focused on 'Childrens Literature.'
I would like to see him do 'dramatic readings' for Books on Tape for an adult themed book. He is of age now. He needs to start showing it.

I am not so sure his voice would be right for such work. He does do 'dramatic' well at the times he has needed to in films, but overall his voice is soft and well suited to young children's books. There is nothing wrong in that; Alan Rickman is noted for his unique dramatic delivery, but he couldn't have done 'Me and my cat' appropriately I'm sure.

I'm surprised to see Bobby overlook for awards, and very surprised to see Will Smith up there for best actor. I saw quite a bit of that film (walked out due to noisy, badly behaved kids behind us and the fact that the film didn't inspire me to stay and put up with them), and Will Smith seemed to be playing .... Will Smith.

If Peter O'Toole doesn't win his Oscar (I mean, Ryan *#^¤ Gosling??!) I shall be happy to shoot myself. :rolleyes:

I don't think O'Toole will win nor Gosling. It's going to be Whittaker that wins this. It's the type of showy role that wins (remember that thing about you can always replace "Best" in an Oscar category with "Most" or "Biggest") and he's just the kind a respected US actor that wins an Oscar when they get the right role. O'Toole just got an honorary Oscar, he's frail and so can't campaign much and he's not been in the LA game for many many years (a lot of it's just politics). It would make a big difference if his health was better because he was a dazzling interviewee in his day. Gosling is young for a Best Actor nominee and the film is small. It's the type of film where for it to get nominated is considered reward enough. The only way O'Toole wins is if he dies. The only way Gosling wins is if a miracle of good taste happens with the Academy (it's supposedly the best performance out of the 5). :rolleyes:

Veering back on topic. No song nomination for Happy Feet. Boo hiss. I think the way the wind is going, Cars has this locked up (probably politics again, US film v Ozzie film) which is a shame.

Well, perhaps Gosling isn't the worst alternative for a win. I like Forest Whittaker. But I looooove Peter O'Toole. Will I ever be as happy as I was during the Oscar night of 2004? Ah, those were the days.

Well, perhaps Gosling isn't the worst alternative for a win. I like Forest Whittaker. But I looooove Peter O'Toole. Will I ever be as happy as I was during the Oscar night of 2004? Ah, those were the days.

O'Toole is definitely in second position (he'll win if Forest doesn't).

Changing the subject wildly (whistles innocently). I've been reading some back entries of the director's blog. There was one with a picture featuring the production noticeboard type thing and the comments were all going "Frodo! Frodo!" so I had a look. There's a little picture of Frodo on the board which I found strangely endearing.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/sneakingraptor/officefrodo_out.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f153/sneakingraptor/officefrodozoom.jpg

Quote Eandme: :D

Thank you Eandme for such a beautifully touching post. It brought tears to my eyes. I can only concur.

The wave is dying away now, but it lifted up many in its path, myself included, and deposited them in a better place.

Brummie wrote: The wave is dying away now...
Possibly, but it is not totally forgotten yet. There is still hope:
New LOTR Lithographs on the Horizon

1/23/07, 2:29 pm EST - Xoanon
http://www.theonering.net/index.shtml

Jerry Vanderstelt writes: I am a commercial artist, and I recently secured a license through New Line to produce LOTR lithographs based on the movie trilogy. I am hoping to create some buzz before my release and get a link about this news from your site to mine. I have done several official LOTR projects for New Line, as well as their licensors. Please check out my website for more info. http://www.vandersteltstudio.com/litho_info.htm


Look out Whiteling, you've got some competition now! :haha:

Sorry I haven't been around lately. :o I've been trying to keep up with reading the thread, at least, but haven't had time to catch up with all the Oscar remarks.

But now I have to - ...er, now I have the privilege ;) of asking that someone start the Faculty Lounge thread #15! :cool: :k :cool: After it's started, I'll try to remember how to lock this one without losing anyone. :rolleyes:

Posting just to get rid of #514, so that we can start a new thread.
I've never started a new thread here before so it may not work, but I'll try anything- at least once... ;)

Thanks, txtac. I'm still not sure how the "redirect" works, so just in case I don't get it right here's a link to thread #15 (which already has 3 posts :) ):
http://www.khazaddum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=326227#post326227

I'll go ahead and close this one.