This week, we analyze gender within the LOTR movies and books. We've been waiting for the theme of gender to come up for so long, so we're excited to get into it!
In this episode, we think about Éowyn (I know - complete shocker!), talk about representation, take a look at how gender functions in Sam and Frodo's relationship, and joyfully realize that a character is essentially #killedbytoxicmasculinity. All the while, Chris makes use of his grad school classes and I use a host of sarcastic tones and air-quotes.
We start the episode off with a conversation around a quote from one of the best badass moments ever:
Listen to the episode here:
Below, I wanted to provide you with a few of the things we mentioned in our Plot and Compelling Questions Segments.
Sam and Frodo:
I decided to take a look at how Sam and Frodo both had gender bending going on during their trip to Mordor, and how it ultimately helped them get there. During the conversation, I mentioned some adorable fan art and just had to share it. Whether you read Frodo and Sam as fierce friends or partners, these = cuuuuuute!
[Click on image for source.]
Additionally, during our discussion on Sam coming back to Rosie, Chris mentioned a book he read in one of his graduate classes. If you're interested in finding out more about the phenomenon of soldiers resuming heteronormativity after returning from war, here is the source Chris cited: Sex after Fascism: Memory and Morality in Twentieth-Century Germany by Dagmar Herzog.
Where else do you see interesting gender representations in LOTR? We would love to hear your thoughts!
...and until next week - GEEK OUT!
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