Friday Sort Of Post

[ithildin]

Since it's Friday, let's play the 'ask me a question' game again. And if you ask me a question, I'll ask you one in return -- if you want :) Any topic, but don't expect answers on anything too TMI or personal.

Comments

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oooh, great answers! Wouldn't meeting Galadriel be awe-inspiring? I think you'd have a great lunch roundtable! :)

Good question! Now, do you want a question in return?

Sure, why not? Thanks!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

Galadriel is probably my fave Tolkien character, followed by Elrond. Yeah, I have to be different!

On to the question! I'll do my best not to be all fangirly on you :) I've been to your website, and you are such an accomplished woman. Actually, I'm rather in awe of you. Seriously [g] Though more in a "she's so cool!" sort of way, than an afraid to talk you way. Heh.

So my question: Cherokee civilization and Tolkien being your two 'specialities'. They seem quite diverse, but I'm wondering if they really are -- is there a connection between the two subjects for you?

And if this is a dopey question, please just tell me, and I'll change it to what's your favourite colour or s

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh wow! I ask you a cheesy question and you give me this fantastic one! Thanks for your kind words, by the way. Seeing that I started kindergarten wearing Chewbacca kneesocks and only got geekier from there, "cool" isn't usually a word I associate with myself! ;)

The "big answer" is that I see history (my training) and science fiction/fantasy (my lifelong love) as two sides of the same coin, since they're both trying to get at what it means to be human. One looks backwards, and the other looks forwards, or away altogether, but at heart, they are searching for what is common to humanity across time and space, who we are and what we dream. That appeals to me.

The specific answer, though, is that you cannot consider the Cherokee Nation post-contact, post-Trail of Tears, post-Dawes Act, post-Indian Reorganization Act, (I could keep on going and going here), without a profound sense of displacement. And one of Tolkien's recurring themes, as he wrote in a letter to his son Christopher, is that humanity is "soaked through with a sense of exile." The two are sympathetic to one another, then - they fit. The Cherokee intellectual tradition was one of the first influences for me into thinking, also, that stories need not be factual to be true - in fact, some of the most truthful words are not factual. This freed me to understand the truths that Tolkien and others like him reveal in their work.

I hope that isn't too long-winded or lame. :) It's a beautiful question, and I'm honored that you'd ask!

[ithildyn.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed your question :) Chewbacca socks, huh? [g] Cool *and* fashionable!

And one of Tolkien's recurring themes, as he wrote in a letter to his son Christopher, is that humanity is "soaked through with a sense of exile."

You've hit one of the things that so draws me into Tolkien's works. There's a reason I get weepy through most of the end of RotK. Frodo's journey, his suffering, and then his exile in his own home, his own land, is heartbreaking. He doesn't get a fairy tale happy ending. He gives up everything to protect what he loves, but doesn't get to enjoy what he saves.

I hope that isn't too long-winded or lame. :) It's a beautiful question, and I'm honored that you'd ask!

No, no! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer! I almost didn't ask, but I'm very glad I did.