Amazon’s upcoming Lord of the Rings series, which New Zealand’s taxpayers contributed US$114m towards just to keep in the country, reaffirms the fact that the world loves high fantasy. J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic was a fixture of pop culture long before Peter Jackson brought it to life on the big screen. But its permanence in the public consciousness is unique for a premise so fantastic – and even alien.
But Lord of the Rings is just the most popular target of our affections for franchises based on mythological stories and creatures. The influence of Scandinavian monsters, dwarves, giants, and trees that hold up the world runs right through media. The recent entry in the God of War franchise is a good example, as is George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones, even if that last season almost erased the series from fans’ minds altogether.
Norse creatures, in particular, are almost an obsession of modern writers and directors, having taken over from the fascination with Greek and Roman stories that cinema had during the early years of this century. Movies such as 300, Troy, and Clash of the Titans ensured that the likes of Odin sat bored on his throne while Ridley Scott showed us just how riveting this genre can be.
But what is it about Scandinavian mythology that holds such sway over the popular imagination today? It may simply be that we love high fantasy because it is pure escapism. There’s nowhere further from the high-rise buildings of London and New York than Middle Earth or Asgard, for example. But Norsemen and women have more in common with modern people than we might realize.
Legends & Lore 