Elon Musk doesn’t really get The Lord of the Rings
JRR Tolkien this lord of the rings Novels—and the “myths” of constructed characters, histories, myths, maps, and languages—have served as a bedrock of so-called “thump culture” since their publication in the mid-1950s.
With clear characterizations, and (more or less) clean lines between good and evil, Tolkien’s imagined Middle-earth—a vast and geographically diverse realm filled with elves, dwarves, wizards, dragons, orcs, and halflings—could be called ancient. It is a kind of modern mythology that can adapt to any time, place or scenario. Well, almost any.
Recently, the US Department of Homeland Security has turned to “Shire-posting”. Namely: using quotes and images from Tolkien’s books (and Peter Jackson’s blockbuster film adaptations) as part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s registration efforts. One of the memes, which appeared on X on Wednesday, quoted the character Mary (played by Dominic Monaghan in the films) warning her friend, “Pippin, there will be no Shire” – a reference to the lush land of peaceful hobbits being overrun by the forces of the evil wizard Sauron, bringing all his designs to Middel.
Such legendary myopia seems to have become widespread recently. Elon Musk took to X this week to defend British far-right figure and anti-immigration agitator Tommy Robinson, invoking Tolkien’s story: “Hobbits,” Musk waxed, “were able to live their lives in peace, but only because they were protected by the tough men of Gondor.”
Gondor, for anyone who had too much fun being cool in high school to delve into the fictional history of Middle-earth, was a kingdom of brave warriors called Númenorians, also known as “Men”. It is worth noting that until the time lord of the rings The throne of Gondor is missing, and the kingdom itself has fallen into disrepair under the inept care of a bunch of lazy and corrupt stewards. The so-called “hard men” of Gondor have become cowards and Quislings. More to the point, it is generally accepted that Tolkien’s hobbits survive (and thrive) because of their humility and serious noble virtues. Not because they had tough warriors defending them. Many of Musk’s respondents pointed out that his post promoted a misrepresentation of the novel.
During Trump’s second term, various government agencies have taken on pop culture sources — from Pokemon to Halo — in a clear attempt to seem relevant or “contextual.” (“Based on” is an honor usually bestowed by the right on anyone or anything blatantly sexist, racist, or “woke.”) But this lord of the rings The posts come across as so outrageous – or just silly – because they seem so antithetical to Tolkien’s work and his worldview.
I’m not familiar with Tolkien’s extended appendages and all the illegal Middle-earth heavy stuff, but as a boy I’m an avid Tolkien reader (whose psychedelic poster for lord of the rings I can’t seem to recall any scenes of Frodo, Samwise, Gandalf, Galadriel, and the gang driving around in an unmarked van, wearing choker neck gaiters, harassing immigrants at car washes, and kicking down apartment complex doors on late-night raids. In any case, such scenes bear a more direct comparison to The Shire’s Persistence, the penultimate chapter. lord of the ringswhich sees hobbits returning home from their epic adventure to their oppressed sleepy province and two-bit ranty cops, all in pursuit of a decrepit witch.
