Middle Earth - Unstuck in Time? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Ealasaide · 09-29-2004, 09:01 AM

Someone please direct me to the right place if this issue has already been addressed on another thread or even another forum, but I have been thinking lately that Middle Earth seems to be a place that is culturally unstuck in time.

Prior to becoming heavily involved in RPG's on the Barrow Downs, this issue had not occurred to me, but the more writing I do in the RPG's, the more I find myself tripped up by petty details such as clothing and social nuances.

Culturally, it seems to me that Middle Earth reflects several different time periods at once, depending on the Race and Geographical Location of a given character. For instance, hobbits seem very Victorian, while Rohan seems to ride out to us from about the 6th century. Gondor seems more 12th century. The Elves, on the other hand, seem to come from the Time of Legends, to borrow a term from Terry Gilliam and the Time Bandits, though their clothing seems to be more along medieval lines.

The political structure of the countryside seems more like the sixth century at the beginning of LotR, being divided into separate and sometimes warring citystates, while it takes on more of a medieval feel at the end of RotK, when Aragorn ascends the throne.

So... in terms of RPG-ing, from whence does one draw one's source material other than from Tolkein's works alone? Not being as well-read at Tolkein's works as I perhaps should be, I find myself wondering how to detail my RPG posts. For an RPG that takes place at roughly the same time as the War of the Ring, do I describe a sailing ship that would be contemporary to the 6th, 12th, or 19th century? Do such things as jousting and dueling (with swords - I do realize that there is no gunpowder) exist in Middle Earth? In clothing, I find myself constantly wondering if my character should be wearing a shirt and waistcoat or a tunic. What style dresses do the ladies wear?

So far, I have found that it really has not made that much difference to anyone what I do in terms of details

, but being a bit of a purist, I find the situation disorienting at times and was wondering if anyone else had any opinions on the matter.

09-29-2004, 09:01 AM	#1
Ealasaide Shadow of Tyrn Gorthad Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Fencing Lyst Posts: 810	Middle Earth - Unstuck in Time? Someone please direct me to the right place if this issue has already been addressed on another thread or even another forum, but I have been thinking lately that Middle Earth seems to be a place that is culturally unstuck in time. Prior to becoming heavily involved in RPG's on the Barrow Downs, this issue had not occurred to me, but the more writing I do in the RPG's, the more I find myself tripped up by petty details such as clothing and social nuances. Culturally, it seems to me that Middle Earth reflects several different time periods at once, depending on the Race and Geographical Location of a given character. For instance, hobbits seem very Victorian, while Rohan seems to ride out to us from about the 6th century. Gondor seems more 12th century. The Elves, on the other hand, seem to come from the Time of Legends, to borrow a term from Terry Gilliam and the Time Bandits, though their clothing seems to be more along medieval lines. The political structure of the countryside seems more like the sixth century at the beginning of LotR, being divided into separate and sometimes warring citystates, while it takes on more of a medieval feel at the end of RotK, when Aragorn ascends the throne. So... in terms of RPG-ing, from whence does one draw one's source material other than from Tolkein's works alone? Not being as well-read at Tolkein's works as I perhaps should be, I find myself wondering how to detail my RPG posts. For an RPG that takes place at roughly the same time as the War of the Ring, do I describe a sailing ship that would be contemporary to the 6th, 12th, or 19th century? Do such things as jousting and dueling (with swords - I do realize that there is no gunpowder) exist in Middle Earth? In clothing, I find myself constantly wondering if my character should be wearing a shirt and waistcoat or a tunic. What style dresses do the ladies wear? So far, I have found that it really has not made that much difference to anyone what I do in terms of details , but being a bit of a purist, I find the situation disorienting at times and was wondering if anyone else had any opinions on the matter.