How the One Ring corrupts

An absolutely dead serious study introducing four levels of corruption, along with two uncorrupted levels. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and the art of filmmaking. Each level is described in depth, and from multiple angles: characters, geography, emotion, art, and the self.

An absolutely dead serious study introducing four levels of corruption, along with two uncorrupted levels. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and the art of filmmaking. Each level is described in depth, and from multiple angles: characters, geography, emotion, art, and the self.

We finish by answering the question: “Who the hell is Tom Bombadil?”

• Level 0: Wisdom, Intuitive Popperianism

• Level 1: Intellectualism, Rationalism

• Level 2: Fundamentalism, Totalitarian idealism

• Level 3: Victimhood, Scapegoating

• Level 4: Dark Chaos

• Who the hell is Tom Bombadil?

Level 0: Wisdom, Intuitive Popperianism

No corruption exists yet. It is resisted.

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Gandalf, Galadriel, Aragorn

“I pass the test,” “I will diminish, and go into the West, and remain Galadriel.”

“For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

Geography:

You have walked far and wide with much struggle. Great forests of the world you have called home. From high peaks you have seen the limits of your understanding. Beyond lies the Encircling Ocean and, further still, the mystery of the Void.

Characteristic emotion:

Humility, patience, sense of meaning

Filmmaking:

Myths and old tales told by the fire. Adulthood is harnessed by the Inner Child to create what has been received. There are castles in the sky, and worlds where only children can see the spirit of the forest. The Grail falls into a crack in the ground. The black lodge.

Self and spirituality:

Goals are discovered. Unexpected is expected. The self is taken less seriously. Meaning is the guide. God is the unknown, the cause not understood, the effect not expected, that which is beyond your control. Time, the unknown, and distance are integrated concepts. Metaphors are not facts. Maps can get very large, reality doesn't mind.

Level 1: Intellectualism, Rationalism

The sense of mystery is lost.

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Saruman and Denethor before their fall

"He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, except as far as they serve him for the moment."

Geography:

The world has many peaks to climb and shadowy places to explore until everything is mapped. Order can be created and optimal routes found. Under every sea and body of water lies the bedrock.

Characteristic emotion:

Desire to accomplish, cleverness, intellectual curiosity

Filmmaking:

Clever plot twists. Characters are made multi-dimensional to suit adult tastes. Filmmakers know that audiences are smart and try to do everything to outwit them. There is logical explanation behind every mystery, like midi-chlorians. Ancient gods become superheroes with character flaws.

Self and spirituality:

The goal and what is good is clear. Personal growth towards the ideal is actively sought. Problems can be solved creatively. Intellectual curiosity is possible. There is an explanation behind every magician’s trick. Once mapped, the forces of the world can be controlled. Gods, and other metaphors are facts and, as such, false explanations. Time, the unknown, and distance have become separate concepts.

Level 2: Fundamentalism, Totalitarian idealism

Everything has become black-and-white.

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Saruman, Denethor after their fall, Boromir

“I gave you the chance of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain.”

Geography:

The world should be leveled down to accommodate and make room for the Right Way. Unwanted features of the land can be covered. It is a very black-and-white place.

Characteristic emotion:

Anger towards foolish people, oversight, pride

Filmmaking:

Movies designed by adults for children or those in need of education. Authors look down upon their audiences who are seen as the lesser ones. Predictable laughs. Ideology-driven screenwriting with desire to have a message. Stereotypes of the day are used. Lecturing monologues.

Self and spirituality:

The goal and the way to reach it is clear. Map is reality, and it is fully known. There is only one way. The truth is understood. Identity is what matters, and person's place in the hierarchy of truth. Instead of being for something, you are against bad people. Metaphors are facts, and as such explain the world as it is.

Level 3: Victimhood, Scapegoating

Personal pain turns into blame.

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Gollum, Grima

“We wants it, we needs it. Must have the precious. They stole it from us. Sneaky little hobbitses”

Geography:

The sun and the moon shine too brightly, causing pain. Judgmental light of the day is too revealing. It is better to hide in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to strike.

Characteristic emotion:

Resentment, envy

Filmmaking:

Resentful, incoherent, and knowingly untruthful creations. Often produced from the cover of anonymity. Most common in the propagandistic battlefields of politics and targeted personal humiliation.

Self and spirituality:

One’s real desires are implemented in secrecy. Backstabbing. If revealed, one’s actions are justified because of past wrong-doings by others. Identity becomes a trap. Metaphors of victimhood are taken as literal truths, blinding one to personal responsibility. The self is all-important; others don’t understand.

Level 4: Dark Chaos

The darkest depth of corruption

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Sauron, orcs, Shelob

"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them"

Geography:

A dark smoke cloud covers the sky. Fog of war. Foul creatures roam free.

Characteristic emotion:

Despair, malice, rage

Filmmaking:

Visions of cruelty with no heroes, only real violence and abuse. An underworld where the writer’s nihilistic void is mirrored by the audience, who seek satisfaction by devouring the life of the innocent.

Self and spirituality:

Reason and identity dissolve, leaving only an unsatisfiable hunger, endless greed. Primal instincts, kill or be killed, rule a wasteland where nothing endures. Good and bad vanish. There really is only one, the self. Others are consumables. Memory and identity erode, leaving only the present moment’s violence.

Who the hell is Tom Bombadil?

At the darkest depth of corruption, an opportunity emerges to see what remains uncorrupted.

Tolkien characters and quotes:

Tom Bombadil

“Who is Tom Bombadil?”

“He is.”

Geography:

Happy stream merrily flows across the rocks. All the trees and hills, animals and flowers dance together as one. The observer of the land and the land observed are the same.

Characteristic emotion:

Playfulness, love, one with everything.

Filmmaking:

Children playing moviemaking, tales of heroes with sticks and laughter. Stories emerge without purpose as expressions of awe and joy, pure as a writer’s unburdened heart.

Self and spirituality:

From chaos emerges that which is unchanging. The self is seen through.