Now I am wondering how Miriel responds, not to ordinary reviews, but to praise from people whose work she really admires... Thank you so much for your comment--I am not sure I deserve it, but it made my day.
I am really drawn to art about artists, too. Sometimes I worry it is because I am a bit shallow and just identify better with characters (or dead historical figures) who are like me, but I think you are right that there is more to it than that.
One of the things that has struck me recently about the Silmarillion (and Tolkien's other writings as well) is that it is FULL of characters who use their art to communicate--not just people whose professions seem to have been artistic (like Maglor, Miriel, or Rumil) but amateurs like Fingon and Tuor, whose spur-of-the-moment art inspires divine intervention, or Finrod, who doesn't seem to have composed any named songs but who uses music to speak to the Edain and to defend his friends. This is perfect for me, since it means I don't have to work at all to shoehorn my personal interests into fic!
Actually I think it's significant that Feanor's mature art is NOT really about communication--he invents tengwar earlier in his career but ultimately abandons linguistic studies in favor of making and jealously guarding his gems (and swords!). Now I am wondering how well that might map onto his character trajectory in other ways.
I hope you don't mind that I responded to your "blathery" comment with blather of my own...I am glad the characterizations worked for you--especially Rumil, whom I grew very attached to while writing this!
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2014-03-26 06:12 pm (UTC)I am really drawn to art about artists, too. Sometimes I worry it is because I am a bit shallow and just identify better with characters (or dead historical figures) who are like me, but I think you are right that there is more to it than that.
One of the things that has struck me recently about the Silmarillion (and Tolkien's other writings as well) is that it is FULL of characters who use their art to communicate--not just people whose professions seem to have been artistic (like Maglor, Miriel, or Rumil) but amateurs like Fingon and Tuor, whose spur-of-the-moment art inspires divine intervention, or Finrod, who doesn't seem to have composed any named songs but who uses music to speak to the Edain and to defend his friends. This is perfect for me, since it means I don't have to work at all to shoehorn my personal interests into fic!
Actually I think it's significant that Feanor's mature art is NOT really about communication--he invents tengwar earlier in his career but ultimately abandons linguistic studies in favor of making and jealously guarding his gems (and swords!). Now I am wondering how well that might map onto his character trajectory in other ways.
I hope you don't mind that I responded to your "blathery" comment with blather of my own...I am glad the characterizations worked for you--especially Rumil, whom I grew very attached to while writing this!