Elon Musk and the Trump Administration's Misuse of Tolkien's Legacy
In recent weeks, a disturbing trend has emerged in which government agencies have used references to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to push anti-immigration messaging. This is not an isolated incident, as various government departments have employed pop culture references from Pokémon to Halo to appear relatable or "based." However, Tolkien posts scan as particularly egregious or just stupid because they seem so antithetical to the author's work and worldview.
The misuse of Tolkien's legacy can be attributed, in part, to a psychological phenomenon where those who wish to oppress need to see themselves as underdogs. This is evident in Musk's recent defense of British far-right figure Tommy Robinson, which he justified by citing the peaceful hobbits of Middle-earth being protected by the hard men of Gondor. However, this reading misrepresents Tolkien's work, as it neglects the humble virtues and noble earnestness that allow the hobbits to thrive.
Musk has a track record of running afoul of nerdery, having mocked his own character build in Elden Ring and boasting about being good at Diablo IV, sparking speculation that he was cheating. This attempt to ingratiate himself among gamers and geeks is also evident in the naming of Palantir and Narya after Tolkien's works by Peter Thiel and JD Vance.
The appropriation of Tolkien's work by the alt-right and Silicon Valley technocrats has long been a concern, with many academics and scholars expressing horror at the misuse of his works. However, it is not a new phenomenon, as Tolkien's works have been claimed across various cultural and political movements due to their archetypal quality.
Tolkien himself was a conservative, monarchist, and Catholic who backed fascist dictator Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, raising questions about his antisemitism. Despite this, he was a vocal opponent of Nazism and its notions of racial hierarchy.
In conclusion, the misuse of Tolkien's legacy by government agencies is a concerning trend that highlights the importance of understanding the author's worldview and intentions. By neglecting Tolkien's anti-authoritarian streak and the virtues of his characters, those who exploit his work are misrepresenting the very values they claim to uphold.
In recent weeks, a disturbing trend has emerged in which government agencies have used references to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings to push anti-immigration messaging. This is not an isolated incident, as various government departments have employed pop culture references from Pokémon to Halo to appear relatable or "based." However, Tolkien posts scan as particularly egregious or just stupid because they seem so antithetical to the author's work and worldview.
The misuse of Tolkien's legacy can be attributed, in part, to a psychological phenomenon where those who wish to oppress need to see themselves as underdogs. This is evident in Musk's recent defense of British far-right figure Tommy Robinson, which he justified by citing the peaceful hobbits of Middle-earth being protected by the hard men of Gondor. However, this reading misrepresents Tolkien's work, as it neglects the humble virtues and noble earnestness that allow the hobbits to thrive.
Musk has a track record of running afoul of nerdery, having mocked his own character build in Elden Ring and boasting about being good at Diablo IV, sparking speculation that he was cheating. This attempt to ingratiate himself among gamers and geeks is also evident in the naming of Palantir and Narya after Tolkien's works by Peter Thiel and JD Vance.
The appropriation of Tolkien's work by the alt-right and Silicon Valley technocrats has long been a concern, with many academics and scholars expressing horror at the misuse of his works. However, it is not a new phenomenon, as Tolkien's works have been claimed across various cultural and political movements due to their archetypal quality.
Tolkien himself was a conservative, monarchist, and Catholic who backed fascist dictator Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War, raising questions about his antisemitism. Despite this, he was a vocal opponent of Nazism and its notions of racial hierarchy.
In conclusion, the misuse of Tolkien's legacy by government agencies is a concerning trend that highlights the importance of understanding the author's worldview and intentions. By neglecting Tolkien's anti-authoritarian streak and the virtues of his characters, those who exploit his work are misrepresenting the very values they claim to uphold.
I'm really disappointed in Elon Musk using Tolkien's Middle-earth as a metaphor for anti-immigration policies. It just doesn't align with the values of fellowship and cooperation that Tolkien's story promotes. 
The use of hobbits being protected by hard men from Gondor is a classic example of this, but it's being taken out of context to justify xenophobic rhetoric. 
It's like Musk is trying to create an alternate narrative that contradicts the very essence of Tolkien's work. I'm not surprised he's been involved in other controversies, though - his behavior on gaming platforms has always struck me as a bit off-putting 
. I mean, come on, he's just trying to win over the nerds and geeks with his fancy name-dropping and thinking that'll make us forget about how he's basically a troll 
. Newsflash: it won't fly! The fact that he's using Tolkien's work to push anti-immigration messaging is just, like, totally messed up 
. I'm all for people appreciating Tolkien's work, but when they start twisting it to suit their own agendas, that's when you know something's off 
. We need to be more mindful of who's using these cultural icons and what their motivations are 
.
... like seriously elon musk using middle earth as some kinda proof he's a "good guy" lol what even is that? 
. like peter thiel n jd vance naming palantir after tolkien's thing is just straight up weird 
like how can you take something so beautiful and peaceful from The Lord of the Rings and turn it into a racist thing lol it's just so not what Tolkien was about 
his hobbits are literally all about being humble and friendly and we shouldn't let anyone misuse that to spread hate 
. can't we just stick to the source material? 
it's just so... Silicon Valley 
.
. He thinks he can just swoop in and claim some nerd cred by mentioning Tolkien and Pokémon? Give me a break 
. It's time for people to stop using pop culture as a prop for their own agendas and actually get informed about what they're talking about 
I'm not buying it.
it's not like tolkien's work is some kind of tool to be used for their own agendas. 
Musk's always been a bit of a weirdo in the gaming community, remember when he tried to cheat at Diablo IV? 
Newsflash, Elon: it doesn't work that way. And what's up with the Trump admin trying to co-opt Tolkien's work? It's like they're trying to make The Lord of the Rings into some kind of right-wing manifesto 
Anyways, I think this is a clear case of people exploiting Tolkien's work for their own agenda and it's just sad that they can't see the bigger picture 