Superversive fiction

[marycatelli]

"In such a state, there is only one way to make a difference. You cannot subvert ruins; but you can build right over top of them. If to subvert is to destroy a thing from below, might we not coin an opposite word? We could destroy a state of ruin from above, and, as I like to say, supervert it. Where people have abandoned their standards, we could suggest new ones (or reintroduce whatever was good and useful in the old). Where institutions have been abolished, we could institute others to do their work. Above all, we could instil the ideas of creation and structure and discipline into human minds and hearts, and especially the hearts of the young."

Full essay here.

Comments

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

You make some very good points. I'm not as familiar with Tolkien's later writings; I found The Silmarillion as unreadable as I've found the Bible and never got very far. I've pretty much ignored the stuff that was published posthumously, having read a few early reviews that disinclined me to look further. (I will freely admit that I may have been too hasty.)

I agree that the essay author's choice of Heinlein was puzzling within the context of traditional gender roles. I've found Heinlein's depictions of women to be a very mixed bag, often sexist in ways that hurt my mind.

[mindstalk.livejournal.com]

Heh, I grew up on mythology, and enjoyed the Silmarillion; the Bible would probably have been improved IMO by Chris's editing. Or anyone's editing.

Just going by the Lord of the Rings... I consider the Appendixes part of the work, and they're enough to tell you that the Blood of Numenor kind of messed up on multiple occasions and that's why there's no king in Gondor. And the Samwise/humility subversion of heroic tropes and being on top is in the story. Not sure about the rest, it may play straight. Well, the detailed description of the Shire is IIRC in the *Prologue*, and the Shire seeming the last bastion of untainted, unangsty civilization is in the story.

Even orcs as Evil is slightly subverted by itself; there's plenty of statements where they're said to hate life and beauty, and they're not attractive up close and personal, but they also seem rather human, in an ugly way, up close, and they think elves are backstabby cannibals or something, which makes one wonder about properly informed choices.

I haven't read much Heinlein, but I've heard about redheaded ubercompetent sex kittens who adore the fat wise man. So, sex kittens. OTOH, ubercompetent and not docile in the home, for 1950s America. Or reverse that.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Heh, I grew up on mythology, and enjoyed the Silmarillion; the Bible would probably have been improved IMO by Chris's editing. Or anyone's editing.

lol.

I really enjoyed Greek, Roman, and Norse mythology when I was growing up. I still enjoy reading them, but I've never been able to get the same pleasure from the Bible. Which is not quite the same thing as not being able to enjoy stories from the Bible. There's some stirring stuff in there. Also some pretty messed up stuff, but that's a whole 'nother ball of wax.

Just going by the Lord of the Rings...

Clearly, it has been too long since I've reread the LotR. I shall add it to my TBR pile.

I haven't read much Heinlein, but I've heard about redheaded ubercompetent sex kittens who adore the fat wise man. So, sex kittens. OTOH, ubercompetent and not docile in the home, for 1950s America. Or reverse that.

Thank you. It was late and I was tired, and I just couldn't figure out how to put that. Yes, exactly.

[marycatelli]

"Untainted, unangsty"? It's not for nothing that Frodo sometimes wishes that the Shire would get invaded by dragons. Tolkien himself described the typical hobbit as like Samwise Gamgee, without the poetry and his fascination with elves.

[marycatelli]

I suspect he was thinking of early Heinlein. Heinlein went a sharp turn midcareer.