Fandom Leap
Remember, some time ago I was griping about some people flaming an essay of mine? Well, I decided I would post it. The thing was written about 11 months ago, and I warn you, it's nothing too serious, and a bit rant-ish ;) Oh well, hope you enjoy!
Quantum Leap into Middle-earth
This idea came to me after a weird dream. Once upon a time, I was quite fascinated with the idea behind the Quantum Leap series, and liked Sam Beckett very much. Yesterday, I discussed some issues of LotR fanon with a friend, and then dreamed of Sam Beckett. Somehow, in the morning these two ideas connected in my mind in a weird way, and I started thinking, Would I like Sam to “leap” into Middle-earth? And if yes, then at what point(s)? And what about fanfiction?
I must say I also read an article The Lord of the Rings as a Defense of Western Civilization by John West, Ph.D., which helped me arrange my ideas into this.
If I remember correctly, Sam’s task is to put right things that need correction.
So, the book…hmm. The first thing that leaped to mind was Boromir’s last stand. Or, better, his Big Screwup, as some say, earlier.
And then I asked myself, Do I really want that? Do I want to rob Boromir of his chance to redeem himself? Do I want him to remain just another Cool Guy, and not become a hero who can take control of the evil that managed to snake its way into his heart? Because, if I accept Sam’s help, I will never be able to fully believe that Boromir would have succeeded by himself.
And then I thought of more possibilities for Sam Beckett to help…and I was not sure I wanted them. It was hard to imagine any of the major “good” characters moved off the stage because someone could perform their tasks better.
And it seems to me I know why. They are either very intelligent or very insightful or both. They are courageous, even the tiniest of them, and even in the hardest circumstances. They possess a free spirit and a lot of character. They are cautious - who wouldn’t be in their shoes! - but they are unafraid of trusting their hearts. They can love, and if they kill, they don’t do it out of hate.
John West uses the notion of “natural law” in his article, and that’s another great things our heroes understand. They know there are things one must hold dear and defend when there’s a need - if one still counts him/herself among the forces of the light. They might (though rarely!) doubt their own value - but they never doubt the value of what they are fighting for.
These things are so many! It’s the chance to make a big sunlit garden and have enough strawberries and cream for children to swim in, to kiss one’s beloved under a blue spring sky, high on the walls, so that everyone could see and grin, to walk at ease through both forests and caves, to see a half-ruined, once beautiful city restored to its former grandeur and splendor, or to have a huge country of similarly Free People - free to praise or to grumble, as their mood requires. Or all of it together.
And they did it. They said: “Sorry, Sam Beckett, we will manage. We don’t see our way too clearly, but we know the goal. There’s no work for you here. Leap on!”
I wish I was as cheerful as that when I come to fanfiction…
But here is where Sam’s talents are in great demand!!!
Let’s see what we have…ah, dysfunctional families. Yeah, we definitely need our hero. To stay mad Denethor’s hand when he is prepared to strike his child. To pull him back when he throws himself onto his poor wife in an attempt to take her when she is most unwilling.
And then maybe we need Sam Beckett too, for isn’t it a common belief that the children of such parents can’t possibly have a happy family themselves? Having known no love, one is not supposed to be able to love, right? So Sam would have to impersonate Faramir or teach him anew the truthfulness and insight he originally had in the book, so that he is not afraid to share his trouble with his wife. He would also have to remind Eowyn that she in fact loves her husband deeply and does not need to fear him…and also that she has changed after the war, and wants to mend rather than go on destroying. Oh, and somehow prevent her numerous affairs with Aragorn, too.
Actually…Sam Beckett is a doctor too, am I right? I think his main trouble will be in dealing with the characters’ case of general amnesia. He will have to teach them to become intelligent, insightful, courageous, and confident again. He will have to remind them that The Lord of the Rings is a tale of recovery, not sickness; of the triumph of hope, not despair; of strength, not weakness. He will tell them, even though he is a product of our nihilistic times, that perfection is not boring, that agreement is not necessarily a sign of decline, and that it isn’t necessary to destroy love just to prove that it’s important.
After all, this is Sam’s goal in each leap, right? To make himself unnecessary in the reality he landed in…to bring things back to normal.
Quantum Leap into Middle-earth
This idea came to me after a weird dream. Once upon a time, I was quite fascinated with the idea behind the Quantum Leap series, and liked Sam Beckett very much. Yesterday, I discussed some issues of LotR fanon with a friend, and then dreamed of Sam Beckett. Somehow, in the morning these two ideas connected in my mind in a weird way, and I started thinking, Would I like Sam to “leap” into Middle-earth? And if yes, then at what point(s)? And what about fanfiction?
I must say I also read an article The Lord of the Rings as a Defense of Western Civilization by John West, Ph.D., which helped me arrange my ideas into this.
If I remember correctly, Sam’s task is to put right things that need correction.
So, the book…hmm. The first thing that leaped to mind was Boromir’s last stand. Or, better, his Big Screwup, as some say, earlier.
And then I asked myself, Do I really want that? Do I want to rob Boromir of his chance to redeem himself? Do I want him to remain just another Cool Guy, and not become a hero who can take control of the evil that managed to snake its way into his heart? Because, if I accept Sam’s help, I will never be able to fully believe that Boromir would have succeeded by himself.
And then I thought of more possibilities for Sam Beckett to help…and I was not sure I wanted them. It was hard to imagine any of the major “good” characters moved off the stage because someone could perform their tasks better.
And it seems to me I know why. They are either very intelligent or very insightful or both. They are courageous, even the tiniest of them, and even in the hardest circumstances. They possess a free spirit and a lot of character. They are cautious - who wouldn’t be in their shoes! - but they are unafraid of trusting their hearts. They can love, and if they kill, they don’t do it out of hate.
John West uses the notion of “natural law” in his article, and that’s another great things our heroes understand. They know there are things one must hold dear and defend when there’s a need - if one still counts him/herself among the forces of the light. They might (though rarely!) doubt their own value - but they never doubt the value of what they are fighting for.
These things are so many! It’s the chance to make a big sunlit garden and have enough strawberries and cream for children to swim in, to kiss one’s beloved under a blue spring sky, high on the walls, so that everyone could see and grin, to walk at ease through both forests and caves, to see a half-ruined, once beautiful city restored to its former grandeur and splendor, or to have a huge country of similarly Free People - free to praise or to grumble, as their mood requires. Or all of it together.
And they did it. They said: “Sorry, Sam Beckett, we will manage. We don’t see our way too clearly, but we know the goal. There’s no work for you here. Leap on!”
I wish I was as cheerful as that when I come to fanfiction…
But here is where Sam’s talents are in great demand!!!
Let’s see what we have…ah, dysfunctional families. Yeah, we definitely need our hero. To stay mad Denethor’s hand when he is prepared to strike his child. To pull him back when he throws himself onto his poor wife in an attempt to take her when she is most unwilling.
And then maybe we need Sam Beckett too, for isn’t it a common belief that the children of such parents can’t possibly have a happy family themselves? Having known no love, one is not supposed to be able to love, right? So Sam would have to impersonate Faramir or teach him anew the truthfulness and insight he originally had in the book, so that he is not afraid to share his trouble with his wife. He would also have to remind Eowyn that she in fact loves her husband deeply and does not need to fear him…and also that she has changed after the war, and wants to mend rather than go on destroying. Oh, and somehow prevent her numerous affairs with Aragorn, too.
Actually…Sam Beckett is a doctor too, am I right? I think his main trouble will be in dealing with the characters’ case of general amnesia. He will have to teach them to become intelligent, insightful, courageous, and confident again. He will have to remind them that The Lord of the Rings is a tale of recovery, not sickness; of the triumph of hope, not despair; of strength, not weakness. He will tell them, even though he is a product of our nihilistic times, that perfection is not boring, that agreement is not necessarily a sign of decline, and that it isn’t necessary to destroy love just to prove that it’s important.
After all, this is Sam’s goal in each leap, right? To make himself unnecessary in the reality he landed in…to bring things back to normal.