My History Talks

 All views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.

This is more crass self-promotion, but if I don't promote myself my voice just dies unheard in the wilderness. Perhaps its proper fate but anyway... I thought a post letting people know where to find my talks and interviews might be of interest. I'll up date this as I give more talks and interviews. 

These are all talks on historical subjects, that were recorded and have been preserved on the web, I've given many talks over the years that were unrecorded. 

Presentations:

“Mountain Storm: Counter-insurgency and the Marine Air-Ground Task Force” Presented at Landpower Conference sponsored by the US Army War College, December 2-4, 2015

The following three talks were all given at the Historicon War College in July 2019. Videos of most of the other presentations can be found here. 

"Firepower & Mobility - Archery in Ancient Warfare" - Examining the role of archery in ancient warfare in the Mediterranean and Europe, including the factors that encouraged, and discouraged, missile warfare in societies.

"The History of War Gaming" - The history of war gaming from its earliest days in the ancient world through computer simulations, focusing on the ways commercial wargames and military training wargames have inspired each other.

"Ethical War gaming: A Discussion" - A discussion on how best to deal with ethical ‘landmines’; such as wargaming groups like the SS; or, when is it ‘too soon’ to wargame a conflict?

Interviews & Podcasts:

125th Anniversary of the Battle of Cuzco Well

I provided the narration and historical content for this Marine Corps video commemorating the Battle of Cuzco Well. 

"Giants Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Transforming the Marine Corps"

A talk about the transition of the Marine Corps from colonial infantry at the end of World War I in 1918 to an amphibious force at the start of World War II on Dec. 7, 1941. 

"Remembering Marine Valor at Pearl Harbor"

A short talk on Maj. Alan Shapley and 1st Lt. George Cannon, two officers among the many Marines cited for gallantry during the surprise attacks at Pearl Harbor and Midway on Dec. 7, 1941.

"Eagles, Globes, and Anchors – 20.Maritime Strategic Thought"

Breanne Robertson and I were interviewed about the book we co-edited, The Legacy of American Naval Power: Reinvigorating Maritime Strategic Thought, an Anthology (2019). 

I was interviewed for the Seminole Wars podcast about the Marine corps' involvement in those conflicts. The long interview was split into two podcasts:

"SW0106 Marines Earned Sea Legs in the US Frigate Navy; Engaged British, Pirates, Creeks and Seminole on Florida’s Early 1800s Gulf Coast"

"SW0107 Marines Escape Andrew Jackson’s Wrath with Timely Florida War Deployment; Show Great Value on Land/Swamps in Second Seminole War"

All views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.

The Rings of Power & Understanding Tolkien's works

"Halls of Manwe on the Mountains
of the World above Faerie"
 by J.R.R. Tolkien

 Well, I tried to watch The Lord of the Rings: The Rings  of Power on Amazon Prime. I had to give up after about ten minutes, because it was very clear that the series was not based on Tolkien's work in any meaningful name.

I wanted to like this show. I was open to the idea of it. I think a good show telling the story of how Sauron created the Rings and corrupted Numenor could be told based on the outline Tolkien provided. Unfortunately, that isn't going to be this show. 

I want to be clear, I have no comments or complaints on the casting and the race of the actors involved is inconsequential. Discussion of the skin tone of dwarves or elves is simply a distraction. 

The show rewrites vast amounts of the back story of Middle Earth, and that fundamentally changes the nature of Middle Earth and the tales told of it. The journey of the elves from Valinor to Middle Earth has different motives and backgrounds, and the background and history of the elves themselves is clearly different. The personal histories of Galadriel and her brother were altered dramatically. And the Valar, who give their name to Valinor, were not mentioned at all. 

In short, within ten minutes the producers showed quickly that they had no respect for Tolkien's work, nor did they feel any obligation to remain true to it, whatever they might claim while promoting their series. 

This has been common for Tolkien adaptions over the years. In the 1960s an obscure loophole in U.S. copyright law at the time allowed an American publisher to print unauthorized copies of The Lord of the Rings in paperback. Tolkien and his publishers responded in various ways, most famously, Tolkien wrote the following for the covers of the authorized, newly copyrighted editions they rushed into print: "This paperback edition, and no other, has been published with my consent and cooperation. Those who approve of courtesy (at least) to living authors will purchase it and no other." The situations are not completely analogous but they are similar enough, in my opinion, that I shall apply the same remedy.

I will not watch any more of this show. 

In his forward to the second edition of The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien said, "Some who have read the book, or at any rate have reviewed it, have found it boring, absurd, or contemptible, and I have no cause to complain, since I have similar opinions of their works, or of the kinds of writing that they evidently prefer.” I find I cannot take Tolkien's even-handed approach. Frankly, I wish it didn't exist. Whether it is a success or a failure, it will prevent other Tolkien adaptions from being made. I see no positives from this, only a furtherance of the mediocrity of thought and art which characterizes so much corporate media these days. 

For those who wish to understand more of Tolkien's vision away from the show, I do have some suggestions. You should start by reading The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.  There is no substitute for reading his works, of course. I have always found them life changing. 

However, there is an overwhelming amount of material by Tolkien and about Tolkien, Middle Earth criticism can be a very confusing field. I'm a Tolkien enthusiast rather then a true expert by my own estimation, but there are three shorter works of his that I believe are the key to really understanding what he was trying to do. 

Two of these are his two landmark scholarly lectures, "On Fairy-Stories" and "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics". They explain Tolkien's views on the purpose of fantasy writing and fiction in general. The third work is "Leaf by Niggle", a short story that is the closest thing to a deliberate allegory which Tolkien ever wrote, and is his most autobiographical work.  These three, relatively short works will help anyone who is interested and willing to put some work into it to understand not only Tolkien's own works, but it will help them understand all fiction, drama, and literature.

Reading Tolkien's original works is a soul-enriching activity in my opinion. Read some of his works rather then watching this new show. It is time much better spent.

All views in this blog are my own and represent the views of no other person, organization, or institution.