• Students Shall Not Pass Unless They Agree LORD OF THE RINGS is Offensiv

    From BTR1701@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 17 20:23:19 2025
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of colour in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising Tolkien et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs and other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil
    while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the
    bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a tradition of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So no one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by some as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Students of the course in Nottingham will also learn to "repopulate" the canon of British myth and legend.

    Dr Nubia, an occasional contributor to the BBC, provided articles saying medieval England "had diverse populations and Africans lived there, but ethnic chauvinism was evident in literature, including Milton's PARADISE LOST and
    that the tradition persisted in the works of Tolkien and Lewis".

    He claims in the core module text that Shakespeare's work helped to promote a vision of a "fictional, mono-ethnic English past". His plays are said to be problematic for "missing direct references to Africans living in England", creating the illusion of racial homogeneity in England.

    In 2021, academics taking part in an Anti-Racist Shakespeare programme at The Globe Theatre in London argued that the Bard's work consistently links whiteness to beauty, while dark is unattractive.

    Contributor Prof Vanessa Corredera said at the time: "If you put the play in context with other Shakespearean plays, and even the sonnets, this language is all over the place, this language of dark and light... There are these racialising elements." A number of the sonnets are addressed to the physically contrasted Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

    The Telegraph previously revealed that Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, was set to be "decolonised" following concerns about the playwright being used to promote white supremacy.

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive
    museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world
    history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    The Telegraph has approached the University of Nottingham and Dr Onyeka for comment.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From shawn@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 17 18:21:57 2025
    On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:23:19 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of colour >in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising Tolkien >et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs and >other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >chauvinism".

    So all dark skinned individuals are the same? Does he believe that
    orcs share a culture with African Americans or even Africans? Would be
    nice if we could bring a few here and have him have a meeting with
    them. I'm sure they would get along well.

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    Ah, everything in literature has to relate to the real world. And
    thing written long ago still have to reflect the modern world or else
    we must remove them from society.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that >maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the >bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a tradition >of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the >natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So no >one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE >WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by some >as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with >long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Um, don't most Southeast Asians have trouble growing beards. So that
    would suggest there wasn't an intent to reflect them in the book.

    Students of the course in Nottingham will also learn to "repopulate" the canon >of British myth and legend.

    Dr Nubia, an occasional contributor to the BBC, provided articles saying >medieval England "had diverse populations and Africans lived there, but ethnic >chauvinism was evident in literature, including Milton's PARADISE LOST and >that the tradition persisted in the works of Tolkien and Lewis".

    He claims in the core module text that Shakespeare's work helped to promote a >vision of a "fictional, mono-ethnic English past". His plays are said to be >problematic for "missing direct references to Africans living in England", >creating the illusion of racial homogeneity in England.

    In 2021, academics taking part in an Anti-Racist Shakespeare programme at The >Globe Theatre in London argued that the Bard's work consistently links >whiteness to beauty, while dark is unattractive.

    Contributor Prof Vanessa Corredera said at the time: "If you put the play in >context with other Shakespearean plays, and even the sonnets, this language is >all over the place, this language of dark and light... There are these >racialising elements." A number of the sonnets are addressed to the physically >contrasted Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

    The Telegraph previously revealed that Shakespeare's birthplace, >Stratford-upon-Avon, was set to be "decolonised" following concerns about the >playwright being used to promote white supremacy.

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive >museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued >impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world >history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    The Telegraph has approached the University of Nottingham and Dr Onyeka for >comment.


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    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Rhino@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 17 19:30:24 2025
    On 2025-10-17 6:21 p.m., shawn wrote:
    On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:23:19 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/ >>
    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic
    chauvinism".

    So all dark skinned individuals are the same? Does he believe that
    orcs share a culture with African Americans or even Africans? Would be
    nice if we could bring a few here and have him have a meeting with
    them. I'm sure they would get along well.

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that
    eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil
    while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    Ah, everything in literature has to relate to the real world. And
    thing written long ago still have to reflect the modern world or else
    we must remove them from society.

    From that paragraph, it's not clear to me whether you are siding with
    Dr. Nubia or disagreeing with him.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >> white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that >> maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The
    trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the
    bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the >> natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with >> long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Um, don't most Southeast Asians have trouble growing beards. So that
    would suggest there wasn't an intent to reflect them in the book.

    Students of the course in Nottingham will also learn to "repopulate" the canon
    of British myth and legend.

    Dr Nubia, an occasional contributor to the BBC, provided articles saying
    medieval England "had diverse populations and Africans lived there, but ethnic
    chauvinism was evident in literature, including Milton's PARADISE LOST and >> that the tradition persisted in the works of Tolkien and Lewis".

    He claims in the core module text that Shakespeare's work helped to promote a
    vision of a "fictional, mono-ethnic English past". His plays are said to be >> problematic for "missing direct references to Africans living in England", >> creating the illusion of racial homogeneity in England.

    In 2021, academics taking part in an Anti-Racist Shakespeare programme at The
    Globe Theatre in London argued that the Bard's work consistently links
    whiteness to beauty, while dark is unattractive.

    Contributor Prof Vanessa Corredera said at the time: "If you put the play in >> context with other Shakespearean plays, and even the sonnets, this language is
    all over the place, this language of dark and light... There are these
    racialising elements." A number of the sonnets are addressed to the physically
    contrasted Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

    The Telegraph previously revealed that Shakespeare's birthplace,
    Stratford-upon-Avon, was set to be "decolonised" following concerns about the
    playwright being used to promote white supremacy.

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive
    museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued
    impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world
    history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    The Telegraph has approached the University of Nottingham and Dr Onyeka for >> comment.



    --
    Rhino

    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Rhino@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 17 19:32:01 2025
    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of colour in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising Tolkien et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a tradition of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    Students of the course in Nottingham will also learn to "repopulate" the canon
    of British myth and legend.

    Dr Nubia, an occasional contributor to the BBC, provided articles saying medieval England "had diverse populations and Africans lived there, but ethnic
    chauvinism was evident in literature, including Milton's PARADISE LOST and that the tradition persisted in the works of Tolkien and Lewis".

    He claims in the core module text that Shakespeare's work helped to promote a vision of a "fictional, mono-ethnic English past". His plays are said to be problematic for "missing direct references to Africans living in England", creating the illusion of racial homogeneity in England.

    In 2021, academics taking part in an Anti-Racist Shakespeare programme at The Globe Theatre in London argued that the Bard's work consistently links whiteness to beauty, while dark is unattractive.

    Contributor Prof Vanessa Corredera said at the time: "If you put the play in context with other Shakespearean plays, and even the sonnets, this language is
    all over the place, this language of dark and light... There are these racialising elements." A number of the sonnets are addressed to the physically
    contrasted Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

    The Telegraph previously revealed that Shakespeare's birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, was set to be "decolonised" following concerns about the playwright being used to promote white supremacy.

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    The Telegraph has approached the University of Nottingham and Dr Onyeka for comment.




    --
    Rhino

    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From shawn@3:633/10 to All on Fri Oct 17 19:58:17 2025
    On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 19:30:24 -0400, Rhino
    <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 6:21 p.m., shawn wrote:
    On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:23:19 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic
    chauvinism".

    So all dark skinned individuals are the same? Does he believe that
    orcs share a culture with African Americans or even Africans? Would be
    nice if we could bring a few here and have him have a meeting with
    them. I'm sure they would get along well.

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    Ah, everything in literature has to relate to the real world. And
    thing written long ago still have to reflect the modern world or else
    we must remove them from society.

    From that paragraph, it's not clear to me whether you are siding with
    Dr. Nubia or disagreeing with him.

    Pointing out his thinking that literature is meant to comment on the
    society around when written. Not the first time that's been suggested
    but normally people don't assume that everything is meant to comment
    on their society which seems to be his suggestion.

    If Middle Earth was truly meant to reflect society why have all the
    various creatures including orcs? It's not like Tolkein was at risk of
    his contemporaries coming after him for suggesting blacks might be
    dangerous (not that I think that was his goal.)

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >>> white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that >>> maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >>> trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the
    bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with >>> long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Um, don't most Southeast Asians have trouble growing beards. So that
    would suggest there wasn't an intent to reflect them in the book.

    Students of the course in Nottingham will also learn to "repopulate" the canon
    of British myth and legend.

    Dr Nubia, an occasional contributor to the BBC, provided articles saying >>> medieval England "had diverse populations and Africans lived there, but ethnic
    chauvinism was evident in literature, including Milton's PARADISE LOST and >>> that the tradition persisted in the works of Tolkien and Lewis".

    He claims in the core module text that Shakespeare's work helped to promote a
    vision of a "fictional, mono-ethnic English past". His plays are said to be >>> problematic for "missing direct references to Africans living in England", >>> creating the illusion of racial homogeneity in England.

    In 2021, academics taking part in an Anti-Racist Shakespeare programme at The
    Globe Theatre in London argued that the Bard's work consistently links
    whiteness to beauty, while dark is unattractive.

    Contributor Prof Vanessa Corredera said at the time: "If you put the play in
    context with other Shakespearean plays, and even the sonnets, this language is
    all over the place, this language of dark and light... There are these
    racialising elements." A number of the sonnets are addressed to the physically
    contrasted Fair Youth and the Dark Lady.

    The Telegraph previously revealed that Shakespeare's birthplace,
    Stratford-upon-Avon, was set to be "decolonised" following concerns about the
    playwright being used to promote white supremacy.

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive >>> museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued
    impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world
    history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    The Telegraph has approached the University of Nottingham and Dr Onyeka for >>> comment.


    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From BTR1701@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 03:47:53 2025
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of
    colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising
    Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs >> and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic
    chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >> white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that >> maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The
    trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the
    bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the
    movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a
    tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So >> no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by >> some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with >> long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    Especially considering it's a helluva lot more of an accurate descriptor than "Asian". The insistence that we call folks from there 'Asian' instead of oriental is ridiculous.

    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.

    It's like referring to people from Canada as North American. Sure, it's technically true, but it purposely leaves your audience in the dark as to whom you're referring



    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The True Melissa@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 06:09:10 2025
    In article <10cujlg$1f9ee$1@dont-email.me>,
    no_offline_contact@example.com says...


    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    It wouldn't in a sensible world, but the people who
    object to words tend to pile a lot of assumptions on to
    them. In this case, one assumption is that anyone using
    the word must be doing so to signal a belief in old
    stereotypes about inscrutability and duplicity.

    When seeing a normal usage -- say, a piece of writing
    contrasting oriental with occidental culture -- they may
    be so put off by the word that they cannot understand the
    meaning of the writing. They may refuse to consume the
    work.

    ObTV: One particular instance with bizarre results is the
    modern Who fan's refusal to watch The Talons of Weng-
    Chiang. It has plenty of Asian stereotypes out the wazoo,
    and it's also a magnificent episode, and just as a little
    bonus, it shows a Time Lord regenerating from one
    apparent race to a different one. The people who wanted a
    black Doctor could and should have pointed at this scene,
    but they'd never seen it and were unwilling to watch it,
    so they themselves didn't know they had a precedent.


    Melissa

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  • From The True Melissa@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 06:10:46 2025
    In article <10cv2l9$1ih30$1@dont-email.me>,
    atropos@mac.com says...
    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from
    Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.


    Come to think of it, it's almost the opposite of
    "Caucasian." We're not really all from the Caucasus
    mountains.


    Melissa


    --- PyGate Linux v1.0
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Rhino@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 10:13:43 2025
    On 2025-10-17 11:47 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of >>> colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising
    Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs
    and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >>> chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from
    white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that
    maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >>> trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the >>> bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the
    movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a
    tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So
    no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by >>> some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with
    long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    Especially considering it's a helluva lot more of an accurate descriptor than "Asian". The insistence that we call folks from there 'Asian' instead of oriental is ridiculous.

    Having heard that "oriental" is offensive (even if I don't know why) I
    tend to use "East Asian" over just "Asian" to be a little clearer that I
    mean China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, etc. and not just any
    country/person in Asia.

    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from
    Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.

    Or Israel. Little known fact, Israel is in Asia too. Based on maps of
    the world, I'd always assumed it was in Africa. Apparently, anything
    east of the Sinai Desert (or is it the Suez Canal?) is in Asia.

    It's like referring to people from Canada as North American. Sure, it's technically true, but it purposely leaves your audience in the dark as to whom
    you're referring



    North America has always been a bit vague to me. Here in Canada, we
    often use it to mean just Canada and the US, i.e. the (predominantly) English-speaking countries of North America. Sometimes we include Mexico
    to make it a threesome, due to NAFTA/CUSMA. But we really should include Central America, right down to Panama in North America and sometimes do.

    Apparently, in some countries, North and South America are presented as
    a single continent. Some places even consider all of Africa, Europe and
    Asia as a single continent, AfroEurasia. That would mean there are
    really just 3 continents on this planet: AfroEurasia, the Americas, and Antarctica. (Or maybe 4 if you treat Australia as its own continent as
    some people do.) Plus a shitload of islands, some of which are deemed
    part of a continent and others which are not. Ultimately, it's all just arbitrary and subject to change.

    A couple of years ago, I saw a reference to the Southern Ocean and
    scratched my head wondering where that was. It turns out that
    geographers decided in the 2010s that all the waters of the Atlantic,
    Pacific and Indian Oceans south of the Antarctic Circle were now the
    brand new Southern Ocean. I have no idea why they chose to do that or
    how widely recognized that decision is.

    --
    Rhino

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From moviePig@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 11:20:45 2025
    On 10/17/2025 11:47 PM, BTR1701 wrote:
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of >>> colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising
    Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs
    and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >>> chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from
    white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that
    maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >>> trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the >>> bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the
    movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a
    tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So
    no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by >>> some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with
    long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    Especially considering it's a helluva lot more of an accurate descriptor than "Asian". The insistence that we call folks from there 'Asian' instead of oriental is ridiculous.

    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from
    Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.

    It's like referring to people from Canada as North American. Sure, it's technically true, but it purposely leaves your audience in the dark as to whom
    you're referring

    "Slurs" typically gain their negative cachet from past usage.



    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The Horny Goat@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 13:04:01 2025
    On Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:23:19 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust set out plans to "create a more inclusive >museum experience" at the site. This process included exploring the continued >impact of Empire on the collection, the impact of colonialism on world >history, and how Shakespeare?s work has played a part in this.

    And how do the works of Shakespeare differ ethnically from the works
    of other writers of the day? Will Hamlet have to change from "prince
    of Denmark" to "prince of Ethiopia"?

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The Horny Goat@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 13:08:31 2025
    On Sat, 18 Oct 2025 03:47:53 -0000 (UTC), BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com>
    wrote:

    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from >Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.

    It's like referring to people from Canada as North American. Sure, it's >technically true, but it purposely leaves your audience in the dark as to whom >you're referring

    Exactly - and while I haven't seen the Frito Bandito in awhile it's
    also true that Nescafe no longer puts pictures of coffee farmers (all
    Latino of course) on their cans but then no photos of anything but
    coffee beans and brewed coffee on their cans either.

    I didn't think twice about it - just assumed that by going to actual
    coffee images they weren't having to pay royalties to their actors.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From Adam H. Kerman@3:633/10 to All on Sun Oct 19 03:10:03 2025
    Subject: Re: Students Shall Not Pass Unless They Agree LORD OF THE RINGS is Offensive
    BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> >wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of
    colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising
    Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs >>> and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >>> chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >>> white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that
    maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >>> trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the >>> bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the
    movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a
    tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So
    no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by >>> some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with
    long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why. It comes from the Latin
    meaning "from the east". I don't see why that should be a problem.

    Especially considering it's a helluva lot more of an accurate descriptor than >"Asian". The insistence that we call folks from there 'Asian' instead of >oriental is ridiculous.

    It also refers to the Middle East, so study of Egyptology is study of
    the Orient.

    It purposely vagues-up who you're talking about. An Asian could be anyone from >Japan to Russia to India to Saudi Arabia.

    It's like referring to people from Canada as North American. Sure, it's >technically true, but it purposely leaves your audience in the dark as to whom >you're referring





    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From The Horny Goat@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 20:39:51 2025
    Subject: Re: Students Shall Not Pass Unless They Agree LORD OF THE RINGS is Offensive
    On Sun, 19 Oct 2025 03:10:03 -0000 (UTC), "Adam H. Kerman"
    <ahk@chinet.com> wrote:

    BTR1701 <atropos@mac.com> wrote:
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> >>wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of >>>> colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising >>>> Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs
    and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >>>> chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    Dumb question perhaps but were Tolkien and Lewis particularly out of
    line with respect to their works which were mostly done in the 1950s?

    Certainly Lewis's sermon he gave on 3 September 1939 (the day Britain
    went to war with Germany) were fiery enough which seems reasonable
    given it was the day Britain went to war and two days after Germany
    invaded Poland.

    (Not that Lewis did much in the 1960s - hardly surprising given he
    died 22 Nov 1963 the same day as Aldous Huxley and JFK)


    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)
  • From anim8rfsk@3:633/10 to All on Sat Oct 18 22:01:10 2025
    Subject: Re: Students Shall Not Pass Unless They Agree LORD OF THE RINGS is Offensive
    Rhino <no_offline_contact@example.com> wrote:
    On 2025-10-17 11:47 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    On Oct 17, 2025 at 4:32:01 PM PDT, "Rhino" <no_offline_contact@example.com> >> wrote:

    On 2025-10-17 4:23 p.m., BTR1701 wrote:
    https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/16/tolkien-ethnic-chauvinism-claim/

    A university is teaching students that JRR Tolkien demonises people of >>>> colour
    in the LORD OF THE RINGS books. A history module called "Decolonising
    Tolkien
    et al", taught at the University of Nottingham, uses a text that says orcs >>>> and
    other dark-skinned characters in the trilogy are the victims of "ethnic >>>> chauvinism".

    Dr Onyeka Nubia, a historian and writer who leads the module, argues that >>>> eastern races in the fictional realm of Middle Earth are depicted as evil >>>> while fairer-skinned peoples of the west are shown as virtuous.

    In academia, "decolonising" usually means re-examining or moving away from >>>> white, western viewpoints. In the module's core text, Dr Onyeka writes that
    maligned peoples include Easterlings, Southrons, and men from Harad. The >>>> trilogy also features the dark-skinned orcs, evil creatures that do the >>>> bidding of Sauron, known as the Dark Lord.

    [To be fair, the orc's skin was mostly a sickly gray in color in the
    movies.]

    It adds that Tolkien's treatment of the fictional races shares in a
    tradition
    of "anti-African antipathy", in which people from Africa are painted as "the
    natural enemy of the white man".

    [Except these aren't people from Africa. They're not even people at all. So
    no
    one's painting Africans as anything here.]

    The module also examines racial issues in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE
    WARDROBE. The Calormen in CS Lewis's fantasy novel have long been seen by >>>> some
    as exhibiting oriental stereotypes. They are described as cruel people with
    long beards and orange-coloured turbans.

    [Um... isn't "oriental" a no-no word now?]

    Apparently, but I've never understood why.

    The explanation I?ve been given is that Asian refers exclusively to people
    and oriental refers exclusively to goods like rugs.

    This explanation is given smugly by people who are deeply ignorant and
    equally deeply incorrect.





    --
    The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it is still on my list.

    --- PyGate Linux v1.5
    * Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)