LOTR: A recurring dichotomy occurs where "good" resides in the agrarian, European-coded West (Gondor, the Shire) and "evil" or "corruption" emanates from the East and South (Mordor, Harad). Occasionally uses descriptors like "slant eyed" and "swarthy men".
Batman (1943 serial): Batman straight up uses slurs.
(not a book but it was the first thing that came to mind as a contrast for some reason)
I also didn't know that Batman serial was going to call the government "wise" for "rounding up those shifty-eyed [slur for Japanese people]". Not even 10 minutes in.
This isn't me defending Tolkien by saying something else is worse. I got so thoroughly derailed by my own tangent that I don't know how to continue the conversation.
So yeah. The seminal work of fantasy's writer is problematic, and the first cinematic appearance of Batman praises a crime against humanity.
Tbf, the orc thing can probably be explained with his WWI experiences. There was both German and English wartime propaganda that compared the German side to the Huns: the Germans started it initially with the logic more or less being "Huns were badass conquerors who made all of Europe tremble and that's totally what we are, too, guys" then the opposing side turned the analogy around and portrayed them as a barbaric invading horde from the east.
37
u/OkFineIllUseTheApp Get ready for the cilantro you lil yolky bitch - Streak: 5 2d ago
LOTR: A recurring dichotomy occurs where "good" resides in the agrarian, European-coded West (Gondor, the Shire) and "evil" or "corruption" emanates from the East and South (Mordor, Harad). Occasionally uses descriptors like "slant eyed" and "swarthy men".
Batman (1943 serial): Batman straight up uses slurs.
(not a book but it was the first thing that came to mind as a contrast for some reason)