Dawn Felagund (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dawn_felagund) wrote2010-06-16 07:25 pm
dawn_felagund) wrote2010-06-16 07:25 pm
Entry tags:
A M-m-m ... M-Word Thing!
Since coming back to LJ, I've been scouring around for an m-word thing to do. Because nothing says LJ like a meme an m-word thing! (Okay, so the revised version ain't nearly as catchy.) I got this one from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
samtyr. I really like it because, during my rather long absence from LJland, lots of people friended me whom I know nothing about and haven't had much of a chance to talk with. So this is a good opportunity, if you are new to Ye Olde Flist, for us to get to know each other better. Of course, if you've been around since the dawning of my LJ (pun, ouch, yes, I know) and want to play, feel free!
It goes something like this:
Simple, eh, and painless enough? (I hope!)
What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
Tea. Any kind. Hot, iced, black, or herbal. Bobby and I can easily polish off a half-gallon jar of tea in one sitting, if the conversation's good or the food is spicy. A significant risk to our income is showing up at an SCA event and finding that the Tea Guy is there. The Tea Guy has dozens of different kinds of teas, with enticing names like "Christmas bakery" and "chocolate cherry." At the moment, my favorite tea that I make is black tea brewed in the sun with a sage leaf, mint sprig, and sprinkling of lemon balm leaves tossed in for good measure.
What do you feel is the worst problem with computers?
Heh. The people who operate them? Seriously, the number of misunderstandings that I see springing from people not understanding how tough communication online can be is depressing. I have wasted far too many hours of my life as the SWG owner on such kerfuffles as well. I love computers, but they have their limitations.
Who is the most misunderstood 'Silmarillion' character?
Sam, these are supposed to be simple questions, not subjects for essays! ;) I have lots of names fluttering through my head right now: Fëanor, Maedhros, Nerdanel, Celegorm, Indis, Maglor ... but I have to choose just one.
So I'll go with Maglor. Because, actually, I am writing an essay on this! :D It drives me nuts how authors tend to depict him as a tender-hearted, doe-eyed pacifist strumming a harp in the corner while his brothers scheme about going to war. Since I am writing an essay on this that I might one day finish, then I'll limit myself to 100 words on why this seems so wrong to me.
Until fostering the twins at Sirion, Maglor never stood up for anything. In fact, he was quite ruthless. It was Maglor who killed Uldor. He would have ultimately chosen to leave Maedhros hanging. He didn't stand aside at any kinslaying or Losgar. People tend to lean too heavily, imo, on his fostering of E&E and his musical talents in developing his character. "Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power. Characterization focusing on the fostering of E&E seems rather weak after involvement in centuries of kinslaying and war.
Semi-coherent and cheating a bit with abbreviations, but 100 words exactly!
If you could travel in time to witness one historic event, what would it be?
Bobby and I were talking about this very question the other day. He chose Robert the Bruce's speech before Bannockburn, which is completely irrelevant to the question, yes, but I'm stalling for time.
I suppose I'd choose to witness a Druid ceremony. Because next to nothing is known about the ancient Druids except for obviously biased accounts by the Greeks and Romans. This makes it very hard when developing an SCA persona based on Celtic bards who were forbidden from writing anything down. And Druids are generally interesting.
Have you ever met anyone IRL that reminded you of a Tolkien character?
The Tea Guy mentioned above used to have a helper who looked like an Elf. My husband, when his hair is wet and not tied back, looks a lot like I'd imagine one of the Edain would look, similar to Viggo as Aragorn but not as gaunt in the face. (And, for the record, I was not a Tolkien fan when we decided that we wanted to marry each other!) I look for Maglor every summer on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, but no luck so far.
That was fun--who else wants to play? :D
samtyr. I really like it because, during my rather long absence from LJland, lots of people friended me whom I know nothing about and haven't had much of a chance to talk with. So this is a good opportunity, if you are new to Ye Olde Flist, for us to get to know each other better. Of course, if you've been around since the dawning of my LJ (pun, ouch, yes, I know) and want to play, feel free!It goes something like this:
- If you want to play, leave a comment saying "when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter" Awwww ...
- I'll respond by asking you five questions to satisfy my curiosity
- Update your journal with the answers to my questions
- Include this explanation and offer to ask other people questions
Simple, eh, and painless enough? (I hope!)
What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink?
Tea. Any kind. Hot, iced, black, or herbal. Bobby and I can easily polish off a half-gallon jar of tea in one sitting, if the conversation's good or the food is spicy. A significant risk to our income is showing up at an SCA event and finding that the Tea Guy is there. The Tea Guy has dozens of different kinds of teas, with enticing names like "Christmas bakery" and "chocolate cherry." At the moment, my favorite tea that I make is black tea brewed in the sun with a sage leaf, mint sprig, and sprinkling of lemon balm leaves tossed in for good measure.
What do you feel is the worst problem with computers?
Heh. The people who operate them? Seriously, the number of misunderstandings that I see springing from people not understanding how tough communication online can be is depressing. I have wasted far too many hours of my life as the SWG owner on such kerfuffles as well. I love computers, but they have their limitations.
Who is the most misunderstood 'Silmarillion' character?
Sam, these are supposed to be simple questions, not subjects for essays! ;) I have lots of names fluttering through my head right now: Fëanor, Maedhros, Nerdanel, Celegorm, Indis, Maglor ... but I have to choose just one.
So I'll go with Maglor. Because, actually, I am writing an essay on this! :D It drives me nuts how authors tend to depict him as a tender-hearted, doe-eyed pacifist strumming a harp in the corner while his brothers scheme about going to war. Since I am writing an essay on this that I might one day finish, then I'll limit myself to 100 words on why this seems so wrong to me.
Until fostering the twins at Sirion, Maglor never stood up for anything. In fact, he was quite ruthless. It was Maglor who killed Uldor. He would have ultimately chosen to leave Maedhros hanging. He didn't stand aside at any kinslaying or Losgar. People tend to lean too heavily, imo, on his fostering of E&E and his musical talents in developing his character. "Bards" in the literature that inspired Tolkien, are not doe-eyed or soft but, in Celtic cultures, people of great power. Characterization focusing on the fostering of E&E seems rather weak after involvement in centuries of kinslaying and war.
Semi-coherent and cheating a bit with abbreviations, but 100 words exactly!
If you could travel in time to witness one historic event, what would it be?
Bobby and I were talking about this very question the other day. He chose Robert the Bruce's speech before Bannockburn, which is completely irrelevant to the question, yes, but I'm stalling for time.
I suppose I'd choose to witness a Druid ceremony. Because next to nothing is known about the ancient Druids except for obviously biased accounts by the Greeks and Romans. This makes it very hard when developing an SCA persona based on Celtic bards who were forbidden from writing anything down. And Druids are generally interesting.
Have you ever met anyone IRL that reminded you of a Tolkien character?
The Tea Guy mentioned above used to have a helper who looked like an Elf. My husband, when his hair is wet and not tied back, looks a lot like I'd imagine one of the Edain would look, similar to Viggo as Aragorn but not as gaunt in the face. (And, for the record, I was not a Tolkien fan when we decided that we wanted to marry each other!) I look for Maglor every summer on the Boardwalk in Ocean City, but no luck so far.
That was fun--who else wants to play? :D
no subject
I completley agree! Maglor is far too often painted as tender hearted, hell I've done it myself! BUT he was a kinslayer, and like you pointed out didn't show much regret until the end. I look forward to reading the essay you are working on :D
I don't know much about you, and you probably don't know anything about me so... when I'm dancing with you, tomorrow doesn't matter.
no subject
Maglor is a little doe-eyed in his youth in my stories. However, I like to think that I also communicate that, when it really counts, he tends to be the bravest of his brothers. He often acts first and thinks later. I haven't delved too deeply into his character as an adult, so I hope that, when I do, I do him justice.
Okay, questions, questions ...
1. If you could meet any character from literature, who would it be and why?
2. Why do you create? (Stories, art, paperclip people, whatever--I'm leaving this one intentionally open-ended! :)
3. If you could stop people from doing one petty annoying thing, what would you choose?
4. What is your favorite fanon?
5. If you could choose one myth or folk story to tell me, what would you choose? (Of course, I'm fishing around for you to actually tell it to me, shameless person that I am! ;)
no subject
LOL! I am so there!
1. If you could meet any character from literature, who would it be and why?
I am naturally inclined to Feanorian's, BUT since I really could never settle down on and one Tolkien character, I am going to go with Richard St. Vier from "Swordspoint." Simply because he is kick-ass awesome, and the best swordsman ever! (fan girl in the house, sorry!)
2. Why do you create? (Stories, art, paperclip people, whatever--I'm leaving this one intentionally open-ended! :)
I write because it makes me happy, and I draw because it relaxes me and I get itches to capture my OCs images, even if amateurly.
3. If you could stop people from doing one petty annoying thing, what would you choose?
Do I really have to chose? ..... *blink* cannot think of anything.
4. What is your favorite fanon?
Tolkien hands down XD
5. If you could choose one myth or folk story to tell me, what would you choose? (Of course, I'm fishing around for you to actually tell it to me, shameless person that I am! ;)
I would chose to tell you the Gikuyu's (a tribe in Kenya) creation of man and women story. BUT since I would never get all the names right, and would probably botch it all up I shall not attempt :(
I think we need some more non-western myths and story's going around. There was far more to antiquity then Greek myth (though I do enjoy those too).
no subject
I think we need some more non-western myths and story's going around. There was far more to antiquity then Greek myth
So agreed. If, once I'm teaching, I can accomplish anything, I hope it is to give my students a more well-rounded view of literature and myth than I myself was given.