Our Spanish-language community member Elfenomeno.com has an amazing scoop – an anonymous spy report detailing the first 10 minutes of the Two Towers scene by scene. [More]. There is but one catch – the original article is in Spanish (and perhaps already translated from English). Earlier, we had a hasty Babelfish translation, but we know offer an improved translation courtesy of our hordes of multilingual ringer spies. Thank you to all of you! [More] !!!HUGE SPOILERS!!!
Month: November 2002
In total, The Lord of the Rings features a long list of characters; roughly seventy speaking parts and numerous others in the periphery of things. However out of all these parts, there are only three female characters who play decisive parts in the War of the Ring; Arwen, Eowyn and Galadriel. Based on this fact alone, the Hall of Fire staff invite you to join us this weekend as we discuss one of the most discussed topics surrounding Tolkien’s work: Gender Imbalance In The Lord Of The Rings. [More]
In total, The Lord of the Rings features a long list of characters; roughly seventy speaking parts and numerous others in the periphery of things. However out of all these parts, there are only three female characters who play decisive parts in the War of the Ring; Arwen, Eowyn and Galadriel. Based on this fact alone, the Hall of Fire staff invite you to join us this weekend as we discuss one of the most discussed topics surrounding Tolkien’s work:
Gender Imbalance In The Lord Of The Rings
Tolkien has often been criticised by the modern establishment over the lack of strong female characters in his literature, particularly in The Lord of the Rings. In a climate now dominated by the importance of being ‘politcally correct’ Tolkien’s literature may look almost archaic in its presentation of women, something which even director Peter Jackson felt he needed to address by enlarging the role of Arwen in his cinematic adaptation of The Lord of the Rings.
However, when addressing these issues many people forget that The Lord of the Rings was written at a time where women had barely even begun their quest for equality in society; by the standards of the 1950s, Tolkien’s trilogy was far from being offensive. Is it therefore unfair now to criticise it now? Could there be moments in the book where female roles could be enlarged while at the same time not creating a ‘XenArwen’ character? Or is the very idea of tinkering with Tolkien’s classic almost sacrilege?
Join us this weekend as we discuss one of the burning and more relavent debates surrounding J.R.R Tolkien’s award-winning epic.
Place:
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
Commercials advertising the release of The Two Towers on December 18th have begun showing on television in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The commercial has similiar footage to that of the latest ‘Two Towers trailer.
For some years, TORN’s excess profits have gone to a number of different charitable causes. We’ve just received word from Worldwide Fund for Nature of results from their research, partially funded by us, into the endangered NZ Hector’s Dolphin. [More]
For some years now TORN has been donating its excess profits to various charities including the Worldwide Fund for Nature. Our contribution was being channeled towards research on Hector’s Dolphin, the smalles – and one of the rarest -dolphins in the world. It may be that research which has led to the re-classification of part of the Hector’s Dolphin population, with a better identification of the needs of this most endangered species. The WWF press release follows:
Maui’s dolphin classification a positive step
The classification of the North Island Hector’s dolphin as a separate sub-species, Maui’s dolphin, will strengthen efforts to protect it, according to WWF New Zealand.
“Maui’s dolphin is now officially the world’s rarest marine dolphin”, said WWF New Zealand Chief Executive Jo Breese.
“The classification justifies a zero risk management approach; closing the dolphin’s known range to set net fisheries, both recreational and commercial, and fully enforcing that ban. This must include all harbours and river mouths.”
“WWF hopes the Minister of Fisheries will quickly announce complete protection measures, which are long overdue.”
“In particular, it is crucial that the Minister restricts trawling and Danish seining; this is not currently included in MFish’s protection plans.”
“The summer fishing season has already started, and that is when Maui’s dolphins are most at risk of capture. Three died last summer under partial and largely unenforced protection measures. This cannot be allowed to happen again.”
“Maui’s dolphin can no longer be considered as one of four populations of Hector’s dolphin; we expect to see more government effort directed towards protecting it.”