Visualization of fantasy

[[deleted user]]

I thought this may make a interesting topic after reading Shanna's post in the introduction thread with Leslie's reply.

I also have had trouble visualizing some of the Lord of Rings, mainly because of the constant flow of so much detailed information and continual changing of locations. When i first read the Hobbit (it contained no images or drawings) in the early 70's i visualized a hobbit as being somehow similar to a creature rather than any human form due to the furry feet and my only knowledge of dwarves was from Snow White and for wizards, Merlin. So to see the first part of Lord of the Rings movie (i wanted to read the novel before seeing parts 2 and 3) did help my visualization much and has now helped me in reading the novel and visualizing the settings and characters much better.

[Becky]

Growing up, I had quite a few friends who lived and breathed The Hobbit and LOTR, even though I didn't end up reading them until my early 20's.

For some strange reason, I never considered myself to be a "fantasy reader", so I had myself convinced that I wouldn't enjoy books like these. I'm glad I grew up and proved myself wrong, and that I have (somewhat) better taste than I gave myself credit for! ;)

Anyway, getting back to my point, I was familiar with the concept art long before I ever read these books, so I never had any problem visualizing the characters. The landscapes and area descriptions are a little different, because my mind tends to wander if the descriptions go on for too long, so my visualization of the landscapes (Rivendell, Lorien, Mordor, Cirith Ungol, etc) have all gradually shifted as I re-read the story. It's like I pick up something new every time I read it, which is great, because it never gets boring!

[Terence]

Of course, the dangers of another's visualization is that it doesn't work. In re The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's other work, I have the impression that the elves and orcs don't look all that different from men - the elves are handsomer and ooze nobility and charisma and the orcs are shambling, but physically they're very much alike (in fact, I don't believe "pointed ears," in relation to an elf, ever comes up in Tolkien's writings).

I'm reminded of a Bloom County cartoon where Opus complains that, since he's seen a video of his favorite Beatles' tune, he can't get visions of exploding porpoises out of his head.

[Becky]

You may be right, Terence.

Everyone has their own ideas of what they "see" as they read. I didn't mean to imply that I only see the artists' conceptions and not my own version. That wouldn't be true, I adjust everything to my own interpretation and preference.
I only meant that I never had trouble visualizing the characters because I had a starting point with which to base my own ideas off of.

I don't know if that is a good thing or not. Perhaps I'd have seen something completely different if I read the books without any preconceived notions about what Hobbits look like.

I do understand what you mean though. Nowadays, I almost refuse to see a movie if I haven't read the book first. Case in point was Blindness. Considering the subject, and the fact that everyone is blind, I didn't want to go into the reading with any advantages, such as knowing what a character looked like ahead of time; I wanted to really experience what the characters did.

On the other hand, there are times when I don't want my own ideas tampered with by someone else's (movie makers, in particular) depiction, so I will stay away from those movies to preserve my own ideas.

I think it's all a matter of preference. I don't really think I lost anything in having a pre-existing foundation image of Orcs, Elves and Hobbits- but then I'll never really know. :)

[[deleted user]]

For some reason i always thought of elves as something similiar to santa's elves with those little green pointy shoes with bells on the end and orcs as something like the apes from planet of the apes (dressed in war outfits).

Sometimes it easier to identify and imagine some image you already know of even if it is way off the track until you can find a better form of identification (for me at least). It becomes funny for me when i later realize what i have imagined is nothing like what the author visualized.

[Becky]

That image made me laugh, JJ. I can just imagine Glorfindel fighting the Nine, jingling all the way!

I agree, it is easier to see something new when it's in relation to something you've already seen.

But really, no matter what you see, there's no "wrong" visualization. If it works, go with it! :)

[[deleted user]]

It is a laugh thinking of elves all in green with bells, like Santa's little helpers going to war. Even funnier was imagining the dwarves who arrrived on Bilbo's door step all heading off on the journey singing 'Hi Ho, Hi Ho its off a travelling we go'.

[Robin]

JJ - your elf description made me laugh -- especially given the season - I must say I always picture elves as "smaller" versions of man with very fine features and always thin - there are no "obese" elves. Their limbs might be slightly longer than mans - i.e. long legs, long arms, long fingers etc. I always picture them delicate but never fragile.

[Leslie Ann]

LOL!! The only obese elf is Santa Claus himself--he was described in 'Twas The Night Before Christmas' as a 'right jolly old elf'. I actually never thought of Santa as an elf, though, and those little guys who make all his toys are a different species of elf entirely from the ones I like--i.e. the ones who resemble drop-dead gorgeous humans with pointed ears.

[Fox]

omg, You know, I read a lot of stand alone books that are just snapshots of a larger story all placed in the same world. And a lot of those books focus on very strong elven characters. Warriors, archers, wizards, clerics..

Seeing santa's elves hurling death magic or in the middle of a bloody melee.. wow, that's hilarious!

As far as visualizing, I think that it's a vital part of reading fantasy, the genre itself. I mean fantasy implies flights of imagination. How important is visualization to fantasy?? It's like asking how important air is to breathing!