"J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings novels-and the associated "legendarium" of characters, histories, myths, maps, and constructed languages-have served as a bedrock of so-called "nerd culture" since their publication in the mid-1950s. With its clear-cut characterizations, and (more-or-less) cleanly delineated lines between Good and Evil, Tolkien's imagined Middle-earth-a vast and geographically variegated realm teeming with elves, dwarves, wizards, dragons, orcs, and halflings-can be fairly called archetypal."
"Recently, the US Department of Homeland Security has taken to "Shire-posting." That is: using quotes and imagery from Tolkien's books (and director Peter Jackson's blockbuster movie adaptations) as part of Immigration and Customs Enforcement's enrollment efforts. One meme, posted to X on Wednesday, quoted the character Merry (played by Dominic Monaghan in the films) warning his friend, "There won't be a Shire, Pippin"-a reference to the peaceable hobbits' verdant homeland being encroached upon by the forces of the evil wizard Sauron."
"Elon Musk took to X this week to defend British far-right figure and anti-immigration agitator Tommy Robinson, with recourse to Tolkien's tale: "The hobbits," Musk waxed, "were able to live their lives in peace and tranquility, but only because they were protected by the hard men of Gondor." Gondor, for anyone who was too busy being cool in high school to pore over the made-up histories of Middle-earth, was a kingdom of brave warriors called Númenóreans, also known as "men.""
Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and its legendarium have been foundational to nerd culture since the 1950s. Middle-earth presents archetypal, clearly delineated Good and Evil across a geographically varied realm of elves, dwarves, wizards, dragons, orcs, and halflings. The mythology adapts readily to different contexts. The US Department of Homeland Security has adopted "Shire-posting," using Tolkien quotes and film imagery to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement enrollment efforts. A circulated meme quoted Merry warning "There won't be a Shire, Pippin" as hobbits' homeland faces Sauron’s encroachment. Elon Musk invoked hobbits and Gondor to justify political stances, referencing Gondor's Númenórean warrior heritage and its later decline.
Read at WIRED
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