So you think you have what it takes...? You think you can be called a 'fan' of Tolkien? What does it mean to be a fan?....
does it mean spending all your cash on DVDs and BOOKs...?
Learning elvish, quenya, dwarvish, sindarin, and the black speech?
now is YOUR chance to tell what makes you (or anyone) a fan...why do you call yourself one?...please, do explain. I will await patiently for your replys...
i'm sure some call themselves fans 'cause they "absolutely LOVE Orli...*screams!!!*!!!!...omg did you know ORLANDO likes cheese??!!? and ...I like cheese too!!!!!!! omg!! this is great i'm gona die...orlando!!!!!!cheese...cheese!!!!"
others because they can tell you exactly every detail of the books and films, as well as every tiny complexity of plotlines, character developments and know every family tree of the 31st king of gondor's sister's cousin's uncle's daddy's auntie....
still others just drift in and out of the hype...becoming a fan when their friends go to the cinema...or when its cool...knowing just enough to be liked by the cool people who have some appreciation for the films...but not so much that people will call them nerdy...or geeky...
I believe (if i may be so bold) that i am a fan... of tolkien...of middle earth and the lord of the rings. So my question to you is:
"what does it mean to be a fan?"
what makes you a fan, what makes you NOT a fan?..
Being a fan has different levels I suppose; from little to big. There are some who have just seen the movies and like them, or maybe have even read the books. Hard core fans I believe relate Middle-earth to reality. They begin to see things in our world that relate to Tolkien's. Some may think that's weird but only the true fans can understand I guess.
I think realizing the beauty of Middle-earth and the depth of Tolkien's works is a major part of being a true fan. You don't necessarily have to know each and every thing about Middle-earth (but it would help! ), you simply have to love the books and/or movies.
A true fan does not only drool over the hot guys/gals. They certainly can (can’t help it! ), but it's not all they do.
A true fan at the very least makes an effort to read the books. They don’t necessarily have to read UT and all the HoME series, they don’t necessarily have to kill themselves just to finish The Silmarillion, but at least have the desire and try to read The Lord of the Rings book if you claim that the movie made you a fan. At least have some basic knowledge of what’s going on.
But let me get deeper than those I’ve mentioned above.
A true fan is not the person who can fill their house with the most expensive Middle-earth merchandises. I remember a couple of years ago, I had a limited amount of money for the month (my cousin framed me up, mom grounded me, but that’s a different story), and I spent the last of it on a tatty, second-hand copy of Unfinished Tales, because I desperately wanted to read the book and understand some of the early history of Middle-earth. And I treasured that book above all my other non-Tolkien books. I'm not saying that buying the best copy available makes you a lesser fan, but if you care enough about the material inside, it doesn't really matter what condition it's in.
Of course, the most important thing is to truly appreciate everything Tolkien has written. I'm most certainly not a Tolkien scholar, I am not an expert, or at least I don’t think so, but what I have learnt so far, I have taken to heart.
I don't know if this would really count, but in my opinion, a true fan should be able to understand and appreciate another person's love for The Lord of the Rings, even if they don't agree with it. And I am talking about Peter Jackson. He may approach LOTR from a different artistic direction, but he's just as much of a fan as a hardcore book fan is. I'd like to think that a true fan could understand him better, and not bicker endlessly because he might see some parts of the story in a different way from others. Hate him by all means, but I'd like to think that more people could see where he's coming from, if you get my meaning. I’m not saying that you have to love the movies whole-heartedly to become a true LOTR fan, but I’d like to think that a true fan would be able to understand and appreciate all the respect, time, and efforts given and spent to make the movie a decent one compared to any others. I’d like to think that a true fan wouldn’t only focus at the negative sides of the movies, but also at the positive ones. They shouldn’t only whine because of all the omissions, changes and the non-canon additions that were made for the movie, but I’d like to think that they would also try to regard, not overlook, all the things that the movie kept and got right from the book. Everything isn’t negative, whining about it all your life wouldn’t make you feel better as a fan, or as a person. Appreciate and be grateful for the positive ones. It also took time and effort to put them in there. They were there for you. They were there because PJ and the filmmakers respect Tolkien, his book, and the fans.
I suppose a true fan is not the person who owns the most, or reads the books the most. If they absorb even a little piece of Tolkien, and take it truly to heart, that would make them a fan. Of course, there's nothing wrong with wanting to know everything and collect everything Tolkien-related; that might even make you more of a fan. But I don't think that makes you a fan on its own.
The most important thing is, you need to really love what Tolkien is putting across. If you feel you can disappear into Middle-earth and appreciate the underlying spirit and dedication that has gone into its creation, I suppose you can call yourself a true fan.
In my opinion you might call yourself a fan (fanatic... a very discussable title...) as soon as you respect others' opinions on "fan-dom" if they differ from yours... and are interested in them, and when you try to find out more about anything by yourself... curiousity, I think thats what makes a "fan".
You maybe only buy loads of merchandise or books if you _are_ a fan... but buying them doesnt _make you_ a fan. Learning by heart the whole Silmarillion also wont make you more a fan... being a fan just means loving and respecting something. imo.
^^
__________________ Life is complex: it has both real and imaginary components.
too bad i cant access my regular comp, so i cant write as much as i want to
but oh well, i think i'm a fan... not reallly such a true fan as many of you here, cuz i dont really keep tabs on everything on LotR, and i don't know that much about Tolkien, but i still i love the books, and while i know alot of ppl who despise LotR and think it's all devilry, and nonsense, even sometimes my own family, it's still all priceless to me, because i love to write, and i value classic writing, like Tolkien's, and i couldn't care less what anyone else said...
Gender: Female Location: high security padded solitary cell
I'm a fan because that is just me. I love Tolkien and all his works, & yes I love all the popularity that the movies have given the Trilogy. I have my "but's" & "if's" & my "OH-GOD-WHAT-HAS-HE-DONE's" But I still love the movies. I love & understand the Lord of the Rings, & I got in trouble for neglecting my school work to read The Silmarilion (I love that book!) & I've read the Trilogy countless times. But none of that is nescesary to be "A Fan", so long as the book &/or movie means more to you than just a story or a film I would consider you a fan. You don't need to know Tolkiens full life story (like me ) or be able to recite the book & movie of by heart (like me ) Or be totally obbsessed (like me ) ETC ETC ETC. You just have to enjoy Tolkiens work
Oh, I found this on the net ages ago, I thought it was pretty cool
__________________ "Don't cross the road if you can't get out of the kitchen"
Slytherin's official Mental Institution patient
Gender: Female Location: high security padded solitary cell
Here's the rest of my last reply....
How You Know You're Addicted To The Lord of the Rings
-You refer to parts of your town as parts of Middle-Earth. My school has become The Mines of Moria, my headmistress the Balrog! The woods next to my schoo are now Lothlorien.
-You have given all you're school teachers Middle-Earth names.
-You wear Hobbitish clothing as part of your normal wardrobe.
-You sometimes let your hair go curly after a wash, and run around the house in bare feet yelling "I'm a Hobbit!"
-You hate it when Elves are only thought of as 'Santa's little helpers' and have tried to explain the difference between Santa-Elves & Syrian Elves to your 5-year old cousins.
-You speak in Quenya just to annoy your friends
-You refer to regular elephants as Oliphaunts
-You go shopping in bare feet because you believe yourself to be a Hobbit.
-Another way you know you're an addict: While butter a piece of bread, you suddenly think of Bilbo (remeber when he was talking to Gandalf about feeling tired) saying that he felt "like butter spread over too much bread."
-You renamed your car the Wraith-Mobile.
-You have a replica of The One Ring
-Your poor parents are really regretting that they brought you the Lord of the Rings box set when you were a little Hobbit sized being.
You are beginning to resemble a panda due to the fact that you've stayed up untill 2am for the last year reading & re-reading the great books.
-You actually managed to read the Silmarillion without beiong tempted to give up on this whole Middle-Earth malarkey
-You now have a life-time fear of black horses!
And of course, the most blatant way to tell if you are addicted to the Lord of the Rings:
You spend time trying to think of reasons why you're a Lord of the Rings addict.
__________________ "Don't cross the road if you can't get out of the kitchen"
Slytherin's official Mental Institution patient
I would go as far to say I am a fan, I must admit I am one of those people who seen the film (FOTR) first and decided to pick up one of the books.....
I found it extradoardinary how the middle earth rules so much in the books compared ot the films. The film did set the scene but there are many other things they are missing out
I do go out of my way and ditch "hanging with friends" time to be in my own world of lord of the rings....I no where near classed as a geek and no one particularly takes the piss of me for being a fan.
I do enjoy argueing the the foolish minds who simply say "lord of the rings is shit and totally fake".....that statement was made to me by a guy (i totally hate) after legolas jumps onto the horse after shooting the arrows at the Wargs.
Discos - whoa......being serious is quite fun
__________________
"In the year of our Lord 1314, patriots of Scotland, starving and outnumbered, charged the fields at Bannockburn. They fought like warrior poets. They fought like Scotsmen. And won their freedom."
i know i am a fan because i have read the books, i have seen the movies, and not just because they are extremely popular, because they interest me... i am contstantly relating everything to lotr and middle earth, i am trying very hard to read the silmarillion... i think true fans will love lotr no matter what, one of my friends claims to be a huge lotr fan, so i started talking to her about a chapter in rotk that wasn't i the movie, she had no clue what i was talking about, she's not a true fan... another fan wears the evenstar necklace, she's never read the books either, or even tried to, i'm like 'what's the point?' to be a true fan you have to know both levels, book and movie, or at least attempt to as shadowy said, you have to care
__________________ And a time for every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time to love, a time to hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late
A film fan: appreciates the films, recognises the time and effort put into it, recognises the fantastic cinematography and doesn't just go, "AAAAHHH!!! ORLANDO!!!" Of course, liking the actors/actresses is just an added bonus.
A book fan: this is trickier. I consider myself to be a fan but I have not read The Silmarillion or know Sindarin or Quenya or know all the 'alternative' names for certain areas. However, I have read the books, more than once, and appreciate the work within. I recognise the messages that Tolkien was trying to bring across and I am aware that his world, his characters and his story is simply fantastic.
There are others that make such an effort to prove their 'knowledge' of the books, whether it be by buying all the volumes of the History of Middle Earth or by making countless thread discussing things that many fans, I for one, would not understand.
Basically: I am a fan. A fan of the books AND the films. I appreciate the stories told and recognise Tolkien for the purely talented writer he was/is. I disapprove of people that make too much of an effort to show how much they know compared to other fans. To be a fan, I think you should read the books, appreciate them and recognise the love, effort and hard work that has gone into the writings.
Sure...there are different levels of being a fanatic. I mean, that is what we are discussing here...isn't it ?
I have read the Hobbit, FOTR, TTT, and ROTK, but that was many moons ago, and when I saw the movies...there were a lot of things that I had forgotten about. Things that triggered my memory about how much I enjoyed the story, the characters, and the world it was based on.
Who is to say that just because someone has not read the books is not a fan...or if you haven't seen the movies, you are not a fan. Does being a fan mean you can't recite a chapter in one of the books, or go into detail about the genealogy of Arwen ?
I think that Peter Jackson created the movies in such a way that you didn't have to read the books to enjoy it. For our younger generation...like my 5 year old Son, who would never be able to read any of Tolkien's books...can he not be a fan of LOTR ??? He sits and watches the movies with me...recites the lines, and can follow the story and tell me who each and every person is. I think he is a fan no matter what.
To each of us, LOTR has touched us in a different way. No matter if you have read the books, seen the movie, learn Elvish, or buy everything that you can lay your hands on...I think that everyone here, in this Forum, is a LOTR fan...
others because they can tell you exactly every detail of the books and films, as well as every tiny complexity of plotlines, character developments and know every family tree of the 31st king of gondor's sister's cousin's uncle's daddy's auntie....
i would call myself a fan
but not because i own all the DVDs or alot of the books, that doesnt mean a thing
just because you spend alot of money on something doesnt mean you are a fan of it
hell i spent about 50 pound on all the bruce lee films and i just realised they arent like i remember them...and i dont like them anymore
lotr fan is....well it cant be defined it is simply sombody who liked lotr...has attempted to or has read the books....and has a passion to know more
The most #1 impressive symptoms of being a fan - being able to make fun of your obsession but still love it.
__________________
Thank you so much Eezy!!
I'm starting over, do not mistake me for my brother - he has left. Eezy has convinced me to come back, give him some credit.
i agree with almost everything up there so i'm not going to repeat it i just know i'm a fan because on day i woke up and wanted to know more about Lotr the history and life and all that it got its own track in my mind that repeats daily "these are great books these are great books" there complete wonderful every bit of them and i love it cuz Lotr opened my eyes to great literature i love these books because there great storys (history and all)
I agree with all of you guys. Every single thing you guys said is brilliant Wonderous essay, s_b. I think you're pretty much known for your long responses haha. That's not a bad thing, though!
I can say I'm a fan, though not as much of a fan as some of you here. Actually, I'd rather have someone else say whether I'm a fan or not.....I wouldn't trust my opinion.....
Anyways, I am, like Discos, included in that group of people who saw FOTR and then read the books. I actually never even heard of LOTR before I saw FOTR, but I loved it the first time. I went out and bought the book, read it, and love it. Yesh, I admit, I've only read it once. I'm gonna start reading it every summer, though. I don't have time during school. I tried reading The Silmarillion, but, I'm being honest here, I just can't understand it. I've always been ahead of everyone in the reading category (no, I'm not trying to brag or anything....I'm just a faster reader and I just have a bigger vocabulary or...whatever haha) and I could usually read something similar to The Silmarillion, but for that book, I'm just gonna wait a year or possibly two before I try to read it again. It's better to read and understand a book than to just read a book.
I haven't bought tons of expensive merchandise (just my Ring, the posters/pics on my wall, the movies, and a Gollum shirt hehe...but nothing TOO expensive) or read the books thousands of times or known Arwen's great-great-great-great-grandfather's uncle's sister's nephew-in-law's cat's brother's mom's hairdresser's cousin or anything like that. I know a few of the character's history a few generations back, but nothing too big. The things you haven't done, though, don't matter.....
What DOES matter is what you HAVE done. I HAVE read the books. I HAVE watched the movies (many times, I might add), I HAVE recited lines from the books or movies to my family/friends/self constantly, I HAVE bought a few merchandise, I HAVE never liked LOTR just for an actor (I became obsessed with Billy after ROTK....I've always loved Pippin...Cause he's him and he's funny, not cause he's cute *coughLegolasfangirlscough*), I HAVE suggested reading the books/watching the movies to many people, I HAVE stood up for LOTR when someone said something like "LOTR is stupid," I HAVE also stood up for Peter Jackson/the actors/actresses when someone says something like "______ is stupid," I HAVE an extremely strong love for all of the characters in LOTR, and I HAVE to go now haha. (yesh, I'm done being serious....wow, I've been serious for, what, three sentences! *gasp* hehe)
Wow, I think that's almost as long as s_b's!...Only half a page ess than her's haha...Cool!
Sorry if I repeated anything anyone has already said. You tend to forget if someone's said it already when you get all caught up in writing stuff like this
__________________ Still lovin' the Billy Boyd.
Last edited by PippinTook on May 1st, 2004 at 12:50 AM
KMC Community Forums
LOVE Orli...*screams!!!*!!!!...omg did you know ORLANDO likes cheese??!!? and ...I like cheese too!!!!!!! omg!! this is great i'm gona die...orlando!!!!!!cheese...cheese!!!!"
...
Apr 30th, 2004 01:35 AM
), you simply have to love the books and/or movies.
) or be able to recite the book & movie of by heart (like me 
) ETC ETC ETC. You just have to enjoy Tolkiens work 
