NP "the ring does in no way represent the bomb"

[Dave Monroe]

Tolkien, like, hey, Pynchon in that "Introduction,"
was hardly a disinterested commentator on his own
works.  Tolkien commented on his own works precisely
in terms of "authorial intent," and I've no doubt that
he largely believed in his representation of said
"intent."  But, again, "intent" is not my interest,
and we ceratinly have no unmediated access to it, on
anyone's part, so ...

--- jbor <jbor at bigpond.com> wrote:
> It's noteworthy that, commenting in the mid-1960s,
> Tolkien isn't talking about "authorial intent"
> either. He's talking about the text. And,
> fortunately for him and the work, most readers since
> that claim was first made still agree that the text
> doesn't represent WWII and the bomb: they still
> don't receive _TLOTR_ as an allegory, nor do
> they find the argument that it should (or must) be
> received as an allegory a persuasive one.

Neither representation nor allegory necessarily come
into it. Again, traces ...

> Likewise with the absurd "racism" claim. Considering
> the hype and popularity surrounding the movie at
> present, Dr Whatsisname's press release (no "work"
> in sight) has caused barely a ripple. It was picked
> up by a couple of journalists here and there to sell
> copy, or to see whether it would float, but it
> hasn't and it doesn't. Michael Moorcock is a
> former sci fi author with a back catalogue (and
> fantasy trilogy) of his own to move, so it probably
> comes as no real surprise to see him endorsing the
> claim. Apart from him, most others remain
> unconvinced. Which, all things considered, is
> fair enough too.

So the value, strength and legitimacy of critical
commentary--specific statements thereof, critical
methodologies, criticism as a whole--is to be
determined "democratically"?  But by which demos,
which constituency, then?  Or, alternately--though
this is often for all practical purposes the same
thing in yr Western "democracies"--by market demand? 
By fashion, even?  The words of a desperate
(post?)grad student in a contracting job market ...

Authors, critics, their texts, to be judged primarily 
by putative economic motives?  As if it's somehow
Frodo OR Elric here?  On that point, actually, genre
purchases tend to beget genre purchases, Tolkien to
Lewis to Peake to Moorcock to, er, Brooks (though
that's where I gave up; I've a morbid curiosity about
those Gor books, however ...).  Reminds me, I've a
little something on Moorcock when I get a chance ...

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