Burlesque.
Browsing Blogdex, I stumbled over two lit-crittish burlesques of our current sitch, from either side of the howling divide: that side, and this one. —Unfair, perhaps, but it is rather nice to have one’s prejudices reinforced now and again, isn’t it? (Meanwhile, in the real world—)
Commenting is closed for this article.
The most amazing thing about that LotR-inspired bit of analogizing is that all of the assumptions are wrong.
First off, Sauron was the head of an empire of overwhelming size and strength (malevolence aside.) Seems to fit the US better than Iraq.
Second, the parallel between Sauron and his Nazgûl, and Hussein's supposed connections with al Qaeda... hasn't the lack of evidence gotten through to anyone yet? There is no smoking gun, and so another element of the 'analogy' is much less clever than it seems.
Even more insidious is the subtext: that the Iraqi and Kurdish people under Saddam are as irretreivably evil as the Orcs and Goblins under Sauron.
Eww.
Why do I bother?
First off, Sauron was the head of an empire of overwhelming size and strength (malevolence aside.) Seems to fit the US better than Iraq.
It's this distinction that Viggo Morgenstein (sp?), aka "Aragorn", tried to make to film critics who mistook the movie adaptation as an allegory arguing for war with Iraq. I don't think the film critics listened (I know—big surprise.)
Still, wrong as it is, it's a very funny piece.
Even more insidious is the subtext: that the Iraqi and Kurdish people under Saddam are as irretreivably evil as the Orcs and Goblins under Sauron.
Fine. Ruin my fun. ;)
Viggo might not find it funny...
...but I do. Domenico Bettinelli writes some biting satire of the peace movement in Tolkeinesque terms. Do I agree with