I've read the entire trilogy of Middle Earth, finished The Hobbit, and gotten a pretty good start on The Silmarillion, and there's a reason for my obsession that permeates every literary genre and is something I think is a major component for a compelling story, and is certainly necessary for a story told in more than one part. Stories need a rich environment. They need a world to live in. I've found no story or series that drags the reader into a such a convincing fictional setting as well as Tolkien's books do. Every entry into tales of Middle Earth enriches the world and inspires the imagination. Who hasn't read a Tolkien novel and not wanted to live in the Shire? The Shire is the perfect home. A clean, safe, nature-filled oasis in the middle of a dangerous surrounding world. It's sometimes hard to imagine the Shire as an actual part of Middle Earth, considering the turmoil happening in every other locale.
In terms of the archetypal Hero's Story, however, Tolkien's tales generally follow the basic steps. There is an introduction to the hero's home, a call to adventure, an old crone or a wise guide met along the way, a boon of some sort, but it is filled with interest by the way Tolkien infuses interesting elements of character and environment into the old and familiar journey. Tolkien's stories are a journey though a mystical land with new, unheard languages, with magic, with demons – and nothing is left undescribed, nothing is vague. The reader could almost paint a picture for every page, and not have to leave one detail out.
Aunt Maria and Witches
"Aunt Maria" by Dianne Wynne Jones presents familiar characters for anyone familiar at all with witches, but also speaks directly to a discussion about the balance of power. The witches in "Aunt Maria" sit in a place of power in their world, and Maria herself is particularly powerful among the witches. The power struggle reminded me frequently of the undertones of a similar respect in the novel "Howl's Moving Castle," also authored by Jones.
There are several powerful witches in Jones' books, and in "Howl's Moving Castle, women seem to rule even the upper echelons of society. Jones' witches seem to have a more dignified attitude than the western idea of evil or wretched creatures with lumps and boils. Witches in Jones' mind seem to be sophisticated and intelligent, dwelling in upper society, almost as a sort of celebutante. Jones recognizes the power of witches to be a symbol of feminine power and the fantastical mystery powerful women are in a society dominated by men.
I preferred Howl's Moving Castle to Aunt Marie, story wise, I think because the world Howl inhabited was so rich and unique.
There are several powerful witches in Jones' books, and in "Howl's Moving Castle, women seem to rule even the upper echelons of society. Jones' witches seem to have a more dignified attitude than the western idea of evil or wretched creatures with lumps and boils. Witches in Jones' mind seem to be sophisticated and intelligent, dwelling in upper society, almost as a sort of celebutante. Jones recognizes the power of witches to be a symbol of feminine power and the fantastical mystery powerful women are in a society dominated by men.
I preferred Howl's Moving Castle to Aunt Marie, story wise, I think because the world Howl inhabited was so rich and unique.
The New Weird
"Weird" is an increasingly elusive topic these days, since the horror and fantasy genre have been growing increasingly popular and diverse recently. Weird has become someone or another's normal. I watched Cabin In The Woods, however, and got a pretty good taste of what could be considered weird. The film features a relatively generic plotline for a horror flick, but is colored sporadically with inventive demons and villains, some of which are a fresh take on old tropes.
Though not a horror film, I also recently re-watched the film Brazil, which definitely approaches the definition of weird. A blue collar desk worker for a vague government industry meets a supposed terrorist who exposes him to the real beauty of life and takes him on a journey that he's been dreaming about for a long time. It's somewhat unclear to the viewer how much of the film actually happens and what happens in the character's dream-world, but it's very Bowie-esque weird.
I'm not sure what I'd call weird anymore, though. It used to be the grotesque, the uncomfortable, but now it's turned into whatever is merely unexpected. What's unexpected at this point is really anything that's not the traditional take on zombies and monsters, but rather a more old school approach to psychological drama.
Though not a horror film, I also recently re-watched the film Brazil, which definitely approaches the definition of weird. A blue collar desk worker for a vague government industry meets a supposed terrorist who exposes him to the real beauty of life and takes him on a journey that he's been dreaming about for a long time. It's somewhat unclear to the viewer how much of the film actually happens and what happens in the character's dream-world, but it's very Bowie-esque weird.
I'm not sure what I'd call weird anymore, though. It used to be the grotesque, the uncomfortable, but now it's turned into whatever is merely unexpected. What's unexpected at this point is really anything that's not the traditional take on zombies and monsters, but rather a more old school approach to psychological drama.
Homunculus
Homunculus is a manga by Hideo Yamamoto and follows the abstract and horrifying story of Nakoshi Susumu, a former business man living out of his car. Nakoshi is a pathological liar and a narcissist, and considers himself above the homeless people he spends his time with based on his manic psychology. Nakoshi meets a shady medical student in the park one afternoon, who offers him quite a lot of money if Nakoshi will allow him to perform trepanation on him in an attempt to inspire supernatural powers. Nakoshi takes the deal and participates in the experiment, and eventually begins to see monsters that are personifications of the ego of the people he meets.
The story is a psychological roller-coaster that modifies the reader's assumptions of the main character's identity and the identity of every character in the story. Homunculus honestly made me reimagine my life from a different perspective after I finished it. It was such a unique look at the world that I was forced to re-evaluate. I honestly wish I had the lyrical sense to say I all I have to say about this story, but really it needs to be read to be believed. The visuals are incredible, and the storytelling is unique and powerful.
The story is a psychological roller-coaster that modifies the reader's assumptions of the main character's identity and the identity of every character in the story. Homunculus honestly made me reimagine my life from a different perspective after I finished it. It was such a unique look at the world that I was forced to re-evaluate. I honestly wish I had the lyrical sense to say I all I have to say about this story, but really it needs to be read to be believed. The visuals are incredible, and the storytelling is unique and powerful.
Interview with a Vampire
"Interview With A Vampire" is a story so dripping in gothic sentiment that virtually every cover for each publication of the book features a gothic type or is dominated by a red and black theme.
The story follows the vampire Lestat, and tells the story of his journey to becoming who he is in the present tense of Interview. I've never been particularly interested in vampires, but "Interview with a Vampire" provided intriguing insight into what the theme of vampires can do well. Ann Rice's novella highlights character flaws in vampires that as surprisingly human. Frankly, if not for the bloodlust, the vampires in the story are entirely human. They suffer conflicts of love, desire, anger, confusion. The story between Louis and Lestat could be entirely written between two humans. What the vampire theme adds, however, is the sense that this story has lasted and will last a very long time. It's the ultimate gothic romance. Two apparently attractive, closet lovers chasing each other through the eons of time, conflict and drama following them wherever they go.
The story follows the vampire Lestat, and tells the story of his journey to becoming who he is in the present tense of Interview. I've never been particularly interested in vampires, but "Interview with a Vampire" provided intriguing insight into what the theme of vampires can do well. Ann Rice's novella highlights character flaws in vampires that as surprisingly human. Frankly, if not for the bloodlust, the vampires in the story are entirely human. They suffer conflicts of love, desire, anger, confusion. The story between Louis and Lestat could be entirely written between two humans. What the vampire theme adds, however, is the sense that this story has lasted and will last a very long time. It's the ultimate gothic romance. Two apparently attractive, closet lovers chasing each other through the eons of time, conflict and drama following them wherever they go.
The Prestige: A Gothic
"The Prestige" is a novel written by Christopher Priest that follows the story of two competing magicians attempting to outdo the other. Set in a very gothic, Victorian-era London, a master magician's wife is killed by his teammate and competitor. The older magician attempts revenge at every available opportunity, which prompts the other to do the same. The gothic setting is caricatured almost to the point of becoming steam-punk. The magicians eventually meet Nicola Tesla, who becomes a part of each magician's ultimate "prestige."
The book, while brilliant, is perhaps surpassed by the movie adaptation starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the competing musicians. The film is set in a Victorian England that is almost always foggy, like a Edger Allan Poe novel. The characters are as dramatic as opera caricatures, and the conflict is extremely high-stakes. Modern conflict generally gravitates towards ideas that contemporary viewers can relate to. "The Prestige," however, mercilessly traps the viewer in a spiraling trail of deceit and drama.
"The Prestige" is a tour de force of the modern gothic and a prime example that the genre is still alive and well.
The book, while brilliant, is perhaps surpassed by the movie adaptation starring Hugh Jackman and Christian Bale as the competing musicians. The film is set in a Victorian England that is almost always foggy, like a Edger Allan Poe novel. The characters are as dramatic as opera caricatures, and the conflict is extremely high-stakes. Modern conflict generally gravitates towards ideas that contemporary viewers can relate to. "The Prestige," however, mercilessly traps the viewer in a spiraling trail of deceit and drama.
"The Prestige" is a tour de force of the modern gothic and a prime example that the genre is still alive and well.
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