'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground

'The Lord of the Rings' Is Not the Far Right's Playground (extract)

by David French https://t.co/ncwOkp2enS

These days, however, Tolkien isn’t just relevant to nerd world. It
feels strange to say this, but the proper interpretation of his work
has geopolitical implications. Critical factions of the new right at
home and the far right in Europe have latched on to Tolkien’s work. By
“new right” I mean the post-Reagan right, a movement that embraces
state power as a means of fighting and winning the culture war. But
they’re getting Tolkien wrong, and the way in which they are getting
Tolkien wrong matters for all of us.

Last month, Politico’s Adam Wren wrote an extended analysis of the way
that the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy shaped JD Vance. On a 2021
podcast, Vance said, “I’m a big ‘Lord of the Rings’ guy, and I think,
not realizing it at the time, but a lot of my conservative worldview
was influenced by Tolkien growing up.” Vance named his venture capital
firm, Narya, after a magical elven ring. His political ally and
benefactor Peter Thiel named one of his companies Palantir, another
magical object in “Lord of the Rings.” Vance also invested in Anduril
Industries, a defense firm named after Aragorn’s sword.

(Full disclosure: One of my most prized possessions is a replica of
Anduril. My wife, Nancy, commissioned a swordsmith to make it for me
almost 20 years ago. She gets me.)

But Tolkien’s influence isn’t just domestic. In 2022, The Times
published a fascinating analysis by Jason Horowitz of how “The Lord of
the Rings” shaped the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni and much
of the Italian far right.

Read it all here:
<https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/01/opinion/maga-tolkien-lotr.html>



-- 
Stephen Hayes, Author of The Year of the Dragon
Sample or purchase The Year of the Dragon: 
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/907935
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