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anghraineIt's occurred to me that one of the things I love most about Tolkien's writing is how intensely, shamelessly earnest it is. And there are valid criticisms to make for sure, and valid reasons to bounce off his style, but I think there are some critics and fans who are viscerally uncomfortable with earnestness that isn't vaguely ashamed of itself.
Also, I think it's why much of the fandom's adoption of tongue-in-cheek, above-it-all, shitposting detachment bothers me more than for any other fandom. Tolkien is not actually my favourite author—that's Austen. But that style of engagement bothers me less with her (still not my thing, but not nearly as grating), and I think it's because of how much it jars with Tolkien's approach. Austen is tongue-in-cheek in a way that can feel fairly detached—I think the fundamental seriousness of her writing is overlooked sometimes in favour of it, but at least it's something that is there reasonably often. But it's so much rarer with Tolkien.
It's not that everything and everyone has to be serious at all times, or that there's no comedy in his work—of course there is. But it's not a comedy of detachment. It doesn't serve to protect him from criticism or whatever. His writing has this quality of deep unironic immersion that is essential to its function, but is also very at odds with modern fandom's desperate attempts to avoid being cringe. I mean, Tolkien was a serious scholar who went to Venice and was like "wow, it was so pretty that it reminded me of something I made up for my fantasy novel." I've seen critics who are like "who does that?? It's kind of embarrassing if you think about it." But I doubt he would have been embarrassed in the slightest.
His fandom, though, cares very deeply about not being embarrassing or embarrassed, and it just ... feels like a very odd match.
Also, I think it's why much of the fandom's adoption of tongue-in-cheek, above-it-all, shitposting detachment bothers me more than for any other fandom. Tolkien is not actually my favourite author—that's Austen. But that style of engagement bothers me less with her (still not my thing, but not nearly as grating), and I think it's because of how much it jars with Tolkien's approach. Austen is tongue-in-cheek in a way that can feel fairly detached—I think the fundamental seriousness of her writing is overlooked sometimes in favour of it, but at least it's something that is there reasonably often. But it's so much rarer with Tolkien.
It's not that everything and everyone has to be serious at all times, or that there's no comedy in his work—of course there is. But it's not a comedy of detachment. It doesn't serve to protect him from criticism or whatever. His writing has this quality of deep unironic immersion that is essential to its function, but is also very at odds with modern fandom's desperate attempts to avoid being cringe. I mean, Tolkien was a serious scholar who went to Venice and was like "wow, it was so pretty that it reminded me of something I made up for my fantasy novel." I've seen critics who are like "who does that?? It's kind of embarrassing if you think about it." But I doubt he would have been embarrassed in the slightest.
His fandom, though, cares very deeply about not being embarrassing or embarrassed, and it just ... feels like a very odd match.
no subject
on 2022-02-09 07:33 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2022-02-09 09:58 pm (UTC)no subject
on 2022-02-10 12:44 am (UTC)I'm not really addressing your main point, but I feel like those critics are people who don't write themselves (or who are very careful to write only the most ironic/exaggeratedly self-aware things). I would do that, if I could write about any places that pretty! You have a world in your head and it aligns with something in the real world and it's neat! Doesn't seem embarrassing or cringy to me.
no subject
on 2022-02-10 01:09 am (UTC)no subject
on 2022-02-13 12:05 am (UTC)These kind of people are just intensely boring, so I find this kind of criticism completely boring and a vacuum unto himself. Bob, your opinions are bad and you should feel bad *mic drop*
no subject
on 2022-02-13 11:32 am (UTC)