I was digging through some academic databases today and was very happy to see how much writing they have about Tolkien. I found something that made me laugh. We’re going to be talking a lot about the influence Tolkien has had on our culture and our literature in the coming month, but this was an unexpected appearance:
This is slightly off schedule and tomorrow I’ll still be talking about the origins of The Hobbit, but I also want to put this article out there for you.
From the Christian Science Monitor: Tea Party Hobbits? Hardly, Say Indignant Tolkien Scholars.
The article is a response from Tolkien scholars who are taking serious issue with this characterization!
It made me laugh. If you’ve been following the news you’ve heard the Tea Party called a whole lot of things, both positive and negative. But I’d never before thought of them as little tiny people with big hairy feet who can’t lay off the Sweet Leaf.
If any of you find other unusual mentions of anything Tolkienesque, please send them to me and I’ll get them posted.
Josh
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Politics aside, many find it difficult to, “lay off the Sweet Leaf”
Casey, you hobbits and your leaf and your rock music…
Oh, please make sure not to miss the influence of Tolkien on Led Zeppelin’s music
Especially “Misty Mountain Hop”!
Wow. . . . that’s funny! Tea party memebers are definitely NOT Hobbits. Now what’s this about laying off the Sweet-leaf?
This article gave me a chuckle. McCain guilty of “hobbit character assassination”. I think someone needs to compile a list of all the silly metaphors and comparisons politicians have used over the years, drawing on pop culture associations to support their positions. I’d read that.
Funny to read they interview Jason Fisher and Wayne Hammond on this matter… sad Tolkien scholars only make news when something happens in politics.