theavenger001 wrote:
@Ondoher (Or anyone else) why would it be politically correct to have the haradrim white, and not black? I'm not big into political correctness, so I honestly don't get that....They're from a middle east type land, why wouldn't they be black/brown/tan/olive skinned?
theavenger001 wrote:
Don't worry, I want my haradrim to be dark skinned, I just don't understand why it would be politaically corect for PJ to have white, not dark, skinned haradrim.
My understanding of the various Tolkien book appendicies and DVD extras is that Tolkien very much intended for the Haradrim to be the typical Middle Eastern stereotype (i.e. "brown") and the 'Mahud' from Far Harad to be the typical African stereotype (black). PJ and co, (understandably) not wanting to cause a fuss, chose not to make Middle Eastern & African looking people the bad guys and gave them a more pale European-Mediterranean look albeit with an Arab style culture. If they had taken a literal interpretation of the books, making Haradrim Middle Eastern and Mahud African in appearence, then without a doubt there would have been accusations of racism, because they're essentially casting middle eastern and african people as the villains.
It's all nonsense anyway (political correctness). Biologically speaking, dark skin is a genetic adaptation to hotter climates. People who originate from hotter countries have darker skin due to increased skin pigmentation (Melanin), a necessary biological adapation to living in a climate with merciless sunshine. The hotter the climate, the darker your skin. In Middle Earth, Harad is described as a mostly desert like country - that sounds to me like the Sahara desert, Saudi Arabia, Iraq. Far Harad is described as Tropical with lush rainforests (and fricking giant elephants!) - that sounds to me like Africa. So, if you accept that the real world laws of nature still apply in Middle Earth, then people from Harad and Far Harad should be dark skinned - brown and black.
The fact that in the context of the Lord of the Rings, the Haradrim and associated peoples are the "villians", is neither here nor there. If anything, thats the fault of the author (Tolkien). PJ and co avoided a literal interpretation to avoid accusations of racism.
Personally, I don't see the Haradrim as Evil. Just morally ambiguous in their associating and worship (?) of Sauron. And I don't see Gondor as beyond-reproach Good either. After all, the Numenorians did invade and subjugate the 'lesser' people of Harad. Later, the Haradrim resisted and threw out the descendants of Numenor (the Gondorians). Aligning themselves with Sauron and Mordor (who are Evil) is an act of necessity. Better to ally yourself with the all powerful Sauron, than the weak and fragmenting Gondor, which just so happens to be your Old Enemy, former Master and is still hostile.
However, factions like the Hasharin, Lords of Umbar etc. are 'Evil'.
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) as I was using two thin pieces of balsam glued together. (and they definitely weren't perfectly square once they were glued!) 
