Subtle Racism in Lotro

[Silchas]

As is every literary and legendary treatment of evil, from every civilized society, Eastern or Western, "civilized" or "backward", modern or archaic.

The night, darkness, and the color black have all been associated with menace, evil, and death in early Jewish writing (a middle-eastern tribal people), early Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, and other Mesopotamian cultures, Egyptian literature and myth, Sub-Saharan African tribal traditions, Chinese and Japanese cultural traditions, all European cultures, American Indian traditions, transplanted Carribean Negro cultures, and on, and on, and on....

It's a visceral, instinctual shared human condition. So is xenophobia. Your statement is historically and culturally ignorant.

Actually, if you look, in most Asian cultures that derive their perspectives from Chinese traditions, white is the color of death and, often evil.

[HumphreyMilkweed]

Actually, if you look, in most Asian cultures that derive their perspectives from Chinese traditions, white is the color of death and, often evil.

The Chinese are racists!

[Evebel]

God, I love brunettes. You know what else I miss? Curly hair. Seems like every girl on Earth now has perfectly straight, dyed hair in some shade of blonde. Bleh, I like tight curls, and dark beautiful hair.

I have natural ringlets. Does that work for you?

[HumphreyMilkweed]

I have natural ringlets. Does that work for you?

Yes! I'm a man, so I don't know what a ringlet is. Lol, but it sounds good. Is that a curl?

[8skyfaller]

In Bree-land, the southern invaders are called "swarthy",
as in swarthy southerners. This is intended as an insult. Swarthy means dark-skinned.

The invaders are dark-skinned. The observation isn't racist, unless it implies a condemnation of all dark-skinned individuals, a phenotype that also expresses among the Free Peoples of Dale and Gondor.

Also in Bree-land, the term "half-breed" is used as an insult against Sharkey's half-orc followers. Half-breed is a very old insult against mixed race people. The same term is not used, to my knowledge, to describe the half-elf characters in the game, only the dark "swarthy" skinned ones.

The vein of your argument is: pejoratives in a work of art are inappropriate when they have racist connotations in the real world.

This simply will not do.

The prejudices in the story are integral to the fiction. It has no linkage to reality besides an individual's error, willful or otherwise, to export the fiction as fact. The onus of maintaining integrity is on each of us. The suggestion to diminish a work of art to adhere to your particular political standard is offensive.


By the way:

Goblins and other evil non-human characters (e.g. the tribal enemies in Lossoth) are shown as having camps full of animal totems. This appears to be a signifier for "primitiveness". To my knowledge, none of the cultures player characters come from have totems. Especially in North America, having totemic people = primitive = evil is very problematic given the treatment of aboriginals.

A sub-theme of LOTR has always been the celebration of the primitive and the demonization of industry. The mysticism of the elves, the rurality of the hobbits, these are held as virtuous, while the creativity and enterprise of the dwarves and the ambitions of men are depicted as ill-conceived and craven.

By no means is Tolkien's work devoid of immoral and evil ideas, but to change it vice real life is at best misplacing effect for cause, and at worse committing the evil of evading the responsibility of thinking.

TLDR: Asking to add a hijab on the Mona Lisa if it's on display in the Middle East, is a really stupid idea.

[Evebel]

Yes! I'm a man, so I don't know what a ringlet is. Lol, but it sounds good. Is that a curl?

It's basically a bouncy curl, yes.

[Nemulas]

8skyfaller makes some very good points. My own contribution to this thread is clumsy and the same points have been better made by people who continued to study literature after their 16th birthday. But anyway..

Tolkien's mythology arose from his studies of the origins of the English language, and northern European mythology. He was writing something that would appeal to our* cultural background, he didn't attempt to incorporate elements of African, Hindu or Far Eastern Mythology.

Now, in high fantasy such as this, you need good (the Elves, the Dunedain), Evil (Orcs, the Dark Lord, monsters) as well as ordinary folk, who are mostly good. In the end, absolute evil is destroyed, but absolute good is also lost to us, and Men are left to find their own path.

Elves and Men both awoke in the east but migrated to live in the west, the promised land, much as our european ancestors had done.

They came to be hemmed in on all sides by the forces of the Dark Lord. In the Silmarillion, he dwelt in the northern wastes. In LOTR, he now abides in the South and East, controlling all of the lands off the edges of our map, though the grey mountains in the far north remain an abode of goblins and worms.

The only side on which we are not beset is West - where lies a vast ocean, beyond which the valar are said to dwell - thither only the Elves may travel, and none can return.

The unfortunate thing about this mythology is that rather than simply becoming orc food /enslaved, these humans living in occupied territories fall under Sauron's influence and end up fighting on his side. Thus the book gives an unflattering account of African / Eastern humans.

It is worth remembering that in the second age, Sauron ruled over the men living in the west of middle earth too. Yes, that's us white skinned western europeans, worshipping Morgoth and practicing evil. Tolkien moderated Sauron's absolute evil somewhat - rather than practicing genocide, Sauron was content to assume the role of "king of men" - because he wanted to show that man is capable of following evil.

Within the Tolkien universe, it is only an accident of strategic geography that kept men of northwestern middle earth (mostly) free of his influence in the third age. As a practical matter, the legend was told from a European perspective, therefore this is where the "last stand" of civilsation would take place.

[Fortinobrand]

In reply to some -- look at the environment Tolkien grew up in. He attended a whites-only school. It actually didn't have a whites-only policy for the simple fact that one was not needed. In his 20's there were a series of race riots throughout the UK because white English were increasingly concerned about the influx of blacks into the country. The UK was coming out of a period of active voluntary participation in the African slave trade, and still very active in oppressing minority natives for profit, to the point of standing against several international organization declarations of racial equality because it would disrupt their business and political activities.

England today is not the England of 100 years ago, and I think that's part of what's being overlooked. Contrary to what some have said there have been dramatic societal changes in the last 100 years. In fact to say otherwise is an absurdity.

As I stated before -- there is no evidence that Tolkien was an active racist. He was a member of a society that had a set of standards that included a long-standing perceived position of superiority over non-whites. These kind of societal standards filter down to the individual level, it's part of the belonging. That found it's way into his writings just as surely as his religious and war experiences did. He spoke of trying to keep them out, but such things shape us so foundationally that "keep them out" is a flawed approach.

[Silchas]

In reply to some -- look at the environment Tolkien grew up in. He attended a whites-only school. It actually didn't have a whites-only policy for the simple fact that one was not needed. In his 20's there were a series of race riots throughout the UK because white English were increasingly concerned about the influx of blacks into the country. The UK was coming out of a period of active voluntary participation in the African slave trade, and still very active in oppressing minority natives for profit, to the point of standing against several international organization declarations of racial equality because it would disrupt their business and political activities.

England today is not the England of 100 years ago, and I think that's part of what's being overlooked. Contrary to what some have said there have been dramatic societal changes in the last 100 years. In fact to say otherwise is an absurdity.

As I stated before -- there is no evidence that Tolkien was an active racist. He was a member of a society that had a set of standards that included a long-standing perceived position of superiority over non-whites. These kind of societal standards filter down to the individual level, it's part of the belonging. That found it's way into his writings just as surely as his religious and war experiences did. He spoke of trying to keep them out, but such things shape us so foundationally that "keep them out" is a flawed approach.

I agree. I think for his time he was not a 'racist' as we think of that term, an active participant in dis-empowering people of other races or ethnicities. If I recall, in one of the Letters there is even a discussion of the dwarf/semitic relationship and he clearly stated that was not his intent. Everyone is a product of their environment, some transcend it more than others, some never transcend it at all.

If an MMO were set in ancient Roman and had NPC slaves in it, that would not be an advocation of slavery, something that most people now accept as wrong. It would however be an accurate representation of the time it was set in.

[Fortinobrand]

If an MMO were set in ancient Roman and had NPC slaves in it, that would not be an advocation of slavery, something that most people now accept as wrong. It would however be an accurate representation of the time it was set in.

Ha I used to play some computer game that would periodically shout "Plebes are needed!" when more slave workers were needed. Civ maybe?

[HumphreyMilkweed]

It's basically a bouncy curl, yes.

I rep'd you for your bouncy curls.

[Silchas]

Ha I used to play some computer game that would periodically shout "Plebes are needed!" when more slave workers were needed. Civ maybe?

There are two City Builder games which take very different approaches. Caesar IV has no slaves as I recall. The most menial jobs are done by plebs. Grand Ages: Rome has slaves and slave markets. Of course, there are many other games but those are the two I am familiar with.

[BillyBeard]

Thanks for posting this. But I'm wondering why you did? To me it's clearly points out that swarthy, used in this context, is a descriptive term, no more offensive than saying someone is tanned, or brown skinned, or pale skinned. And Sam's reaction is wonderful.

Sam's reaction is the reason why I posted it.

[MrWarg]

The UK was coming out of a period of active voluntary participation in the African slave trade, and still very active in oppressing minority natives for profit, to the point of standing against several international organization declarations of racial equality because it would disrupt their business and political activities.

Tolkien grew up in the 1890s and the early 20th century. Slavery had been abolished in Great Britain in 1772 and the slave trade outlawed throughout the British Empire in 1807. Slavery was also abolished Upper Canada in 1793 and then through the British Empire in 1833, except for Ceylon, St Helena and parts of India.

In the early 19th century the Royal Navy actively worked against the Atlantic Slave trade, patrolling the coasts of Africa to intercept slave ships.

By the time of Tolkien's birth, let alone the period when he grew up, slavery had long since been abolished in Britain and the Empire and the UK was actively working against slavery.

[GerdinMo]

i don't know why it is racist of describing someone's color...But I feel like there are no racism in that....

[tkdyoo]

Im glad so many other people have already shot this guy down. All I can say is, obviously there was too much reading in to things and not enough enjoying of a game.

[Fledermaus]

Im glad so many other people have already shot this guy down. All I can say is, obviously there was too much reading in to things and not enough enjoying of a game.

I would disagree with you there. After reading through most of the longer replies (as opposed to the ones that are merely accusations of being "PC"), I think the conclusions are mixed.

Many people have pointed out that the division of black = evil, white = good, is not entirely simplistic in the books. There have also been quotes from Tolkien where he explicitly condemns racist regimes like Nazi Germany and South Africa. It seems clear then that neither the books nor the game are overtly racist.

That was never my original point, however. The point was "subtle" racism. On this, I'd have to say, the jury is still out. One comment pointed out that traditional invaders of Western Europe came from the east and were dark skinned. Since these are the myths Tolkien was working with, he inherited this world view.

A better description then is probably "Eurocentric bias". Unfortunately this still leaves us with the paradigm of dark-skin = the enemy. Such a worldview may have been historically justified, and may be justified in an historically-based work like Tolkien's. However, is it justified in a game made in the 21st century for a North American audience? As I said in the OP, the status of women has been updated for a modern game. Shouldn't the references to "swarthy" enemies be updated too?

On the other points I made.

Many thanks to those who pointed out there were good cultures with animal totems. (I haven't got far enough in the game to meet them, or may have missed them).

Someone pointed out that the only mixed-race Elven character in the game is Elron. I doubt, however, that Elron would ever be referred to as a "half-breed". This insult is directed only at those who have dark-skinned blood. This appears to be another example of bias, rather than overt racism, since Tolkien clearly has no truck with regimes that divide people up like this. I still think, given the way it is used as an insult, a term like "half-breed" should be removed from a modern game.

I would also add that I am certainly enjoying the game. It is by far the best MMO out there. That doesn't mean I have to be a zombie when I play it, and turn off my mind. I used to enjoy watching the Little Rascals as a kid, but didn't stop me from recognizing a caricature like Buckwheat.

[MrWarg]

The point was "subtle" racism. On this, I'd have to say, the jury is still out. One comment pointed out that traditional invaders of Western Europe came from the east and were dark skinned. Since these are the myths Tolkien was working with, he inherited this world view.

A better description then is probably "Eurocentric bias". Unfortunately this still leaves us with the paradigm of dark-skin = the enemy. Such a worldview may have been historically justified, and may be justified in an historically-based work like Tolkien's. However, is it justified in a game made in the 21st century for a North American audience? As I said in the OP, the status of women has been updated for a modern game. Shouldn't the references to "swarthy" enemies be updated too?

I believe you are referencing my comments in this section of your post. With all due respect I don't think you have fully grasped the point I was trying to make so I shall set out my point in, what I hope is, a clearer manner.

My point about threats against European civilisations was exactly the opposite of the point you assume I was making when you say "One comment pointed out that traditional invaders of Western Europe came from the east and were dark skinned". If this was indeed a reference to the comments I made then I would ask you to quote me accurately and not twist my words because I never categorised historical threats against European civilisations as being from 'dark skinned' peoples. I pointed out that such incidents involved a wide range of different peoples; from the ancient Persians to the Huns, to the Saxons, to the Mongols, to the Ottoman Turks to modern day peoples from former Soviet countries.

These are disparate peoples, from disparate cultures and regions of the planet. In terms of skin colour they were very different; from the dark tanned appearing skin of the Persians and Turks to the Asiatic appearance of the Mongols to the European features of the Saxons and the former Soviet bloc peoples.

The point wasn't that these people shared a common skin colour, or even a common culture for that matter, but rather that they shared a geography, namely that they came from the east of 'civilisation'. That is really the only common factor here. It is that shared geography that bred the idea of threats coming from a particular direction in the European mindset, not the culture, religion or skin colour of the peoples involved.

It is also worth pointing out that this game is not directed as a North American audience, it is in fact directed at a global audience and has been since it launched in 2007.

[tkdyoo]

A better description then is probably "Eurocentric bias". Unfortunately this still leaves us with the paradigm of dark-skin = the enemy. Such a worldview may have been historically justified, and may be justified in an historically-based work like Tolkien's. However, is it justified in a game made in the 21st century for a North American audience? As I said in the OP, the status of women has been updated for a modern game. Shouldn't the references to "swarthy" enemies be updated too?
.

As another poster mentioned, there were several strong female characters in the book who did very significant things, like Eowyn killing the witch king and galadriel refusing the ring, so I dont think that was really an "update" But as for your question, I dont think it justifies updating the game because we are, after all, suppose to be in middle earth at a historical point in time when the enemy was dark skinned. Since we agree it was historically justified, if that is the time period the game is based in, then it is also justified to not change that aspect.

[ZirasAminstrel]

Tolkien was born in a colonial super power. Ever heard of imperialism? To deny that racism does not exist in his writings is ludicrous. Besides racism is relative. What is offensive to one person may not be to another and during Tolkien's time there was not a lot of tolerance or understanding. What Tolkein wrote might not seem racist at all to him because of his upbringing and experience.

[BillyBeard]

"If we consider what Merton College and what the Oxford School of English owes to the Antipodes, to the Southern Hemisphere, especially to scholars born in Australia and New Zealand, it may well be felt that it is only just that one of them should now ascend an Oxford chair of English. Indeed, it may be thought that justice has been delayed since 1925. There are of course other lands under the Southern Cross. I was born in one; though I do not claim to be the most learned of those who have come hither from the far end of the Dark Continent. But I have the hatred of apartheid in my bones; and most of all, I detest the segregation or separation of Language and Literature. I do not care which of them you think White."
- J.R.R. Tolkien, "Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford," June 5, 1959

30 To Rütten & Loening Verlag
25 July 1938
Dear Sirs, Than you for your letter. ....I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by 'arisch'. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Flindustani, Persan, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people.....

There's more about Tolkien's views on racism in "Letters" but I can't find it right now.

[Fledermaus]

I believe this quote neatly encapsulates the debate on race and Tolkien:

"If we consider what Merton College and what the Oxford School of English owes to the Antipodes, to the Southern Hemisphere, especially to scholars born in Australia and New Zealand, it may well be felt that it is only just that one of them should now ascend an Oxford chair of English. Indeed, it may be thought that justice has been delayed since 1925. There are of course other lands under the Southern Cross. I was born in one; though I do not claim to be the most learned of those who have come hither from the far end of the Dark Continent. But I have the hatred of apartheid in my bones; and most of all, I detest the segregation or separation of Language and Literature. I do not care which of them you think White."
- J.R.R. Tolkien, "Valedictory Address to the University of Oxford," June 5, 1959

Tolkien clearly denounces Apartheid, which, in 1959, would probably put him in the progressive vanguard, especially for some one born in South Africa.

At the same time, however, he calls Africa the "Dark Continent." I believe this term originated in the 19th century and was meant to describe Africa as unknown and unexplored from the European point of view. Since then it appears to have taken on a more pejorative connotation. In any event, its use is in line with an unintended "Eurocentric bias" similar to swarthy/half-breed = enemy.

As has been said above, this is nothing to denounce Tolkien for, only something that jars in the context of a modern MMO.

[HumphreyMilkweed]

Tolkien was born in a colonial super power. Ever heard of imperialism? To deny that racism does not exist in his writings is ludicrous. Besides racism is relative. What is offensive to one person may not be to another and during Tolkien's time there was not a lot of tolerance or understanding. What Tolkein wrote might not seem racist at all to him because of his upbringing and experience.

1) Again, Tolkien was British/White so he is therefore RACIST?

2) Imperialism does not equal racism.

3) Racism is NOT relative. It is a very clear, objectively observable belief system based on thinking ALL people of a certain race have the same characteristics based solely on their race. A common consequence of actual racism is that people make sweeping generalizations about an entire race based on a small sample of people, EXACTLY LIKE YOU JUST DID.

All of the conclusions you've drawn are speculative, not based on any actual facts, and are a clear indication of your own biases and ignorance of the truth. Got your head out of you know where, and stop thinking every single conflict on Earth equals white people are evil, and everyone else is a victim of this.

[Bauglin]

I guess I need specific examples of the game's use of the terms "swarthy" or "half-breed." For instance, if Harry Goatleaf (or almost any of the Bree-landers) describes a Bounder from the South as being swarthy, well, that's just Harry Goatleaf - he comes across as ignorant and somewhat self-interested in the book, and I wouldn't ascribe any racism to Turbine for it, intended or otherwise. If, on the other hand, Gandalf or Strider were to say "Beware so-and-so; they are swarthy and not to be trusted," then obviously there's an issue.

There is clearly going to be tension between Tolkien's use of certain words and our understanding of them - and so the question becomes, should we (or Turbine) "update" Tolkien's writings to bring it more in-line with today's expectations? For instance, if a hobbit in game describes "those Bucklanders" as "queer folk," should we be concerned about the implicit homophobia?

My own answer to this question is no, if the original context is reasonably preserved. Word ownership works for literary (or derivative) uses just as well as it does for self-identity movements that take words meant as insults and uses them as rallying cries.

At the same time, however, he calls Africa the "Dark Continent." I believe this term originated in the 19th century and was meant to describe Africa as unknown and unexplored from the European point of view. Since then it appears to have taken on a more pejorative connotation.

I've only ever seen the phrase "Dark Continent" used romantically (in a literary sense, not a love-story sense). I've never seen it used perjoratively. Again, do you have any specific examples?

[Aelfwulf]

This is post isn't intended to be inflammatory, or concern trolling. It is just food for thought for the mature Lotro community.

These are some examples I noticed of insults that the bestowal text from quest-givers directs towards the enemy.

Super, mind if I disect?

In Bree-land, the southern invaders are called "swarthy", as in swarthy southerners. This is intended as an insult. Swarthy means dark-skinned.

Well as Bree-land and its surrounds are essentially a fantasy version of northern Europe those from the south would be 'swarthy'. I honestly don't think this is meant as an insult, more a description. Perhaps a better word could have been used in game, I'm open to suggestions.

Also in Bree-land, the term "half-breed" is used as an insult against Sharkey's half-orc followers. Half-breed is a very old insult against mixed race people. The same term is not used, to my knowledge, to describe the half-elf characters in the game, only the dark "swarthy" skinned ones.

Of course half-orcs are named in a pejorative way, they're an evil people (maybe species would be better) force bred with humans to create an invading army that can operate in sunlight. That it happens to chime with the old insult for those of mixed race is coincidental in this case.

Goblins and other evil non-human characters (e.g. the tribal enemies in Lossoth) are shown as having camps full of animal totems. This appears to be a signifier for "primitiveness". To my knowledge, none of the cultures player characters come from have totems. Especially in North America, having totemic people = primitive = evil is very problematic given the treatment of aboriginals.

As many others have pointed out many of the 'good' peoples of Middle-earth also use totems.

I suspect most of these tropes come from the original books themselves, which, to be fair, were written from the 1930's-1950's. Other stereotypes from that era have been updated for a modern game. For example, female characters can do anything male characters can, though this was very rare in the books. Perhaps outdated racial stereotypes should be removed too.

You are quite correct these books were written in the first half of the twentieth centuary and the language used is of its time. The fact that Turbine also chose to use this language isn't laziness or subtle recism it's an effort on their part to write in a similar manner to Tolkien so that the game is further linked with the books we all love.

To sum up, or as some of our lazier readers would say tl;dr, any racism in the works of Tolkien or this game comes from the reader and not the author.