Customer Reviews

Return of the Heroes: The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Social Conflict

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a fan of Tolkein, Star Wars, and Harry Potter and one who has appreciated a number of analytic treatments of their themes in relation to culture and society, I was expecting something a little different. Perhaps a more accurate title might have been "Defending the Heroes: Debating Critics of Tolkein and Star Wars, with a Little Harry Potter Thrown in."

The larger portion of the book consists of the author cataloging an extensive list of negative criticisms and in turn criticizing the critics for their method and mood. Granted, his arguments make a lot of sense. But there is much less positive treatment of heroic themes and their potential validity and usefulness in modern society, and much repetitive groaning about how mistaken the critics are.

Not only that, the subtitle suggests that three different series will be treated in the book. In fact, Harry Potter is mentioned only briefly, a few times, almost as if his inclusion were meant to capitalize on his current popularity. For the amount of space devoted to Harry Potter themes, he could just as easily (and more accurately) have been excluded from the title. I found this to be misleading.

When I first read Hal Colebatch's original discussion paper on this topic (from the early 1990's), I knew I had found a kindred spirit. I found it by putting "Star Wars" and "LOTR" into a library catalogue. I was amazed to find that someone had put the two together in a scholarly work, and I was pleased to discover that it was an intelligent, erudite and remarkably coherent piece of writing that crystallised many of my own feelings that had never had an outlet before. Colebatch has completely revised and updated his original paper so that it stands alone as an excellent academic book on western culture, focussed through the prism of heroic literature and film. This new edition includes material on Harry Potter, as well as a more thorough analysis of the works of Tolkien and Lucas. I thoroughly recommend it to any lovers of heroic fiction, english students and Tolkien/Lucas enthusiasts. Colebatch is a very well-read author with his own output of poetry and sci-fi, and his vast knowledge has been brought to bear on important topics, ensuring that this book is a milestone in literary criticism. You do not have to be a dry academic to enjoy this one; you just have to have a love of reading.

It is a testament to my own naivete that I neither knew nor could even imagine anyone not loving LOTR, Star Wars, and the Harry Potter series. Colebatch has done all of us a great service by revealing the radical Left's antipathy to these heroic stories. His main thesis is that since the end of the Cold War, cultural conflict has become more important than political conflict. The ideological struggles of the past are now replaced by efforts to use the arts to radically reshape society via a concerted and sustained attack on traditional Western values in virtually every area of life, including art, literature, ethics, religion & personal relationships. All of which explains the radical Left's hostility to LOTR, et al. That these stories are enormously popular signify strong popular dissent from the moral relativism and nihilism of the cultural elites.

I have two minor criticisms of this book. The first is that it is repetitive: Colebatch repeats himself from chapter to chapter; his book could have used a good editor. The second is that the subtitle of the book is deceptive, in that there is very little on Harry Potter.

I would have to give this book 2 and a half stars at most. I agree with the other reviewer (3 stars) that he is "still waiting for the heroes to return." (I recommend also that review) Do not buy this book if you are looking for a sustained analysis of the themes, characters, plots or ideas in Tolkien, Star Wars or Harry Potter. The book really is merely a reply to critics of Tolkien and Star Wars, and makes very little positive analysis of the books / movies themselves. It should be titled "A Reply to Tolkien's Critics, and some of Star Wars", because it deals mostly with the critics of Tolkien, far less with the critics of Star Wars, and Harry Potter is an almost unmentioned afterthought. The title is deceiving, unfortunately. Colebatch has refuted some very minor extremists - I guess that is a worthwhile endeavor - but many would disregard these critics and their nonsense. In addition, Colebatch seems infatuated with finding nihilism almost everywhere, and in tying the themes of Tolkien and Star Wars excessively to his conservative politics. Yes, Christianity and conservatism can be affirmed by LOTR and Star Wars, but Colebatch omitted entirely the very real East-Asian Daoist-Buddhist themes in Star Wars, as well as the Norse-Pagan influence on Tolkien's world. Star Wars and Tolkien belong more than to just Christians and conservatives, they belong to the world now.

It has been alleged that traditional fairy tales and hero tales are too frightening for children. Any child growing up in a world that can produce the like of Hitler, Stalin, Saddam Hussein, and the Taliban cannot be too early taught that the world is a dangerous place. They are likely to meet cruel enemies; if not anyone like the above, or such localized monsters as Ed Gein or Charles Manson, then schoolyard or workplace bullies. That being so, then they should at least know that there are also brave heroes, and that they can choose which they are going to be.