I think it's fun to remember the context in which Tolkien wanted the books to be read. These aren't stories told in the moment, they are tales captured from ages ago and being retold via unreliable narrators and half truths. These make them subject to retcon, omission, and exaggeration. Approaching these stories as one would a cultural anthropologic expedition is exactly the point.

[–] Rudee@lemmy.ml 22 points 2 months ago (3 children)

If it is, I don't even know how to describe LotR.

Silmarillion shows how half the elves that lived before the third age participated in at least one genocide

[–] Crumbgrabber@lemm.ee 10 points 2 months ago

Maybe Lord Sauron was just misunderstood, and the halfling is indeed just a common thief.

[–] frezik@midwest.social 5 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Propaganda to support the new Gondorian dynasty.

[–] bob_lemon@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago

If anything, it's Rohan propaganda. Heroically defeated Saruman at Helm's Deep, before mustering what's left of their troops to help out a doomed Gondor.

[–] anarchoilluminati@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah, it would maybe be anti-Elf propaganda written by Men?

Men end up sounding not as bad after reading The Silmarillion. It begins and continues with Elves being shit until they go to Aman, a couple of Hobbits (types of Men?) do the impossible and destroy the One Ring to defeat Sauron, then finally ends with a Man destroying Morgoth once and for all at the End of Time. Total Man propaganda rag.

My favorite though.

[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 2 months ago

"The Last Ringbearer" intensifies.

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If this is In Deep Geek his other ones are entertaing and this is one I will watch eventually. Chuckle at the title each time I see it.

[–] observantTrapezium@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 months ago

It's a pretty interesting video actually.