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04-02-2002, 10:48 PM
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#1 |
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Halfwitted
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Eryn Vorn
Posts: 1,659
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Shapes
Is it coincidence that hobbit holes are round?
The circle is often associated with nature, balance, perfection, etc. Hobbit holes aren't the only circular thing around - Gondor's built in seven circles. Barad-dur, meanwhile, is pictured as dark, square, and blocky. Why are circles associated with good? Did Tolkien purposely make his protaganistic locations round? Perhaps the circular nature of hobbit holes and Gondor suggests these places' balance and harmony with nature, while square, rigid Barad-dur is meant to conjure up an image of unyielding, cruel tyranny. Any thoughts?
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Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears |
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04-02-2002, 10:51 PM
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#2 |
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Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill
Posts: 2,389
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Hmm...that is actually a very interesting point. Perhaps it's because you're more likely to find circular shapes than square or boxy shapes in nature that led to it being associated with good things? Did that make any sense?
Also, circles just tend to be easier on the eye, and have a bit of a 'softer' appearance than shapes with angles. Angles remind me of sharp painful things.
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“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell |
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04-02-2002, 11:09 PM
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#3 |
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The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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Ah, nice topic. I agree with both of you. The circles have a smooth look to them and kind of give off a harmonic feeling, I guess. Squares have those sharp corners and aren't exactly associated with the best of things. I might have to give this more thought now
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04-02-2002, 11:24 PM
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Self-Appointed Lord of the Free Peoples of the General Messages
Join Date: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,214
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Quote:
I think that circles are soothing to look at and they are peaceful (Kind of like the olympic flag...) |
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04-02-2002, 11:26 PM
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#5 |
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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One word: Orthanc.
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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04-02-2002, 11:41 PM
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#6 |
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Slacker
Warrior Admin 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Alabama
Posts: 2,759
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I agree with everyone so far. There are no strait lines in nature, so the circles compliment the natural world nicely. Oh, and did anyone else notice that in the movie, Saruman's staff looked just like Orthanc? I thought that was a nice touch.
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"If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you." Gandalf to Pippin Psalm 107:31 |
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04-02-2002, 11:50 PM
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#7 | ||
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The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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Quote:
 Quote:
Last edited by Rána Eressëa : 04-02-2002 at 11:55 PM. |
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04-03-2002, 12:10 AM
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#8 | |
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Quote:
PS isn't benign such a cool word?! Almost as cool as 'irate'....
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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04-03-2002, 12:16 AM
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Bard of Mangled Songs
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila
Posts: 2,679
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Quote:
It does not necessitate evil for non-rounded shapes but rather unnatural forces. Just a thought.
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Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert Accio, Ash Nazg! Elennuru s?*la lúmenn' omentielvo (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures... |
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04-03-2002, 12:23 AM
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#10 |
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The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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We're not talking about everything
Just structures in general. I highly doubt all good things are round and all bad things are rectangler or square. |
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04-03-2002, 12:25 AM
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Quote:
*Mysterious cane pulls her off the thread*
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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04-03-2002, 12:30 AM
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#12 |
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The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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Heh heh heh... *looks down at her mysterious cane and quickly hides it before anyone can see*
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04-03-2002, 12:34 AM
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#13 |
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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*A voice cries off-thread*
"I SAW that!" *Boink!* [mysterious coconut drops from the sky.] "Aargh! The sky is falling, the sky is falling!"
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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04-03-2002, 12:39 AM
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The Rogue Elf
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,722
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Quote:
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04-03-2002, 12:39 AM
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#15 |
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Bard of Mangled Songs
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: West of Middle Earth...oh alright...Manila
Posts: 2,679
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Strange, I could've sworn I was face to face with a dalek.
 Hi RE!
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Power attracts the corruptible. Absolute power attracts the absolutely corruptible. -Missionaria Protectiva, Frank Herbert Accio, Ash Nazg! Elennuru s?*la lúmenn' omentielvo (The Death Star shines on the hour of our meeting) - Darth Arathorn Put aside the ranger... Start looking for Mumakil action figures... |
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04-03-2002, 12:41 AM
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#16 | |
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Quote:
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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04-03-2002, 12:59 AM
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#17 |
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Elf Lord
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Slow down and I sail on the river, slow down and I walk to the hill
Posts: 2,389
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Well'm, maybe it was derived that circular things are good because man looked upon nature and said "Look at all the beautiful curves and curly queues"...then man looked upon his own creation and saw it wasn't nearly as beautiful with its harsh angles and straight lines. Also, man realized how we always screw up beautiful things by 'improving them' by making them ugly.
Ever notice that?
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“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” –Bertrand Russell |
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04-03-2002, 07:43 AM
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#18 |
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Lurker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Lothlórien
Posts: 3,419
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This is interesting. I never thought of it till now.
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There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium... |
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04-03-2002, 10:17 PM
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#19 |
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Halfwitted
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Eryn Vorn
Posts: 1,659
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*thwacks BoP* Stop dissenting! What, do you think we have free speech in this country?
Then why do we sleep in square beds? Oh wait, probably 'cause they fit in corners, huh?  On the other hand, it would probably also be easier to dig a round hole than a square one.
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Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears |
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04-03-2002, 10:21 PM
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#20 | |
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the Shrike
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: San Francisco, CA <3
Posts: 10,647
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Quote:
Now, having dug both square and round holes, it is considerably easier to dig square ones, that is with a spade... 
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"Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords |
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