My sense is that the production design for ROP was one of the few things Tolkien fans universally loved from the series.
This conversation got me thinking about The Shire as a utopia (or at least Tolkien's ideal utopia). One of the core challenges Frodo faces, especially in the books, is the sorrow of leaving his home while knowing he'd likely never see it again.
I feel like we could start an entire Tolktopia series on The Elysian.
Tolktopia!!!! Absolutely!!!! The shire is very much a utopia. I wonder if you’d be interested in writing about that as a guest post/discussion? I’d love to really dig into the metaphor you just presented!
Dubai (where I live) is weird because it’s pretty high-tech but does have that dry and cracked feel to it’s surroundings so it’s a mix between utopia and dystopia for sure. I bet if they placed water and a LOT more greenery, opinions could change though.
This was a cool interview and I loved the transcript! To more :)
Oh that's an interesting perspective. I live in the desert too and never thought of it that way, of course we have a lot of desert plants that really bring in the beauty.
I read the whole thing to my daughter, because she's a fiction writer. But I was a little surprised when she blanched at the mention of voice-control over hand-control. (The disappearance of switches, buttons, levers, you name it.) So I thought more about that and realized, why, yes, of course that could be a concern. The voice is invisible. The button or switch, visible and dependable. Also, I was suddenly reminded of the importance of hands altogether, on the emotional level. Not just metaphor. But how our hands interact with our brains, through neurological pathways. Okay, so a vote for keeping buttons and switches and levers and pulleys and doors and and and... in a place that is going to feel humanly utopian. :)
I found his comments fascinating on including water and trees into a community to make it feel more connected to the world around it. This is intriguing to me from a world-building perspective.
I have a town in my novel that has been a little run down for many years, but despite distance from other communities and finances, I wanted it to gradually reflect positive change - true growth. And even though my small town is surrounded by forest, now I know how I'm going to show that change. Clean up the crime, invest in the infrastructure of the town, and bring the nature that surrounds the town, into the town. Maybe not the bears and mountain lions though.
But because my novel is a mystery, of course there has to be conflict. Secrets, the struggle for power, a mine that promises riches, precious gems...a town that is undergoing an evolution.
Because of all the work you've done and shared with us, now I know how to help my town evolve.
I've always thought it strange that everyone always interviews the actors, when the vision belongs to someone else. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!
What a wonderful interview. Your optimism shows through yet you ask a great series of questions that challenge Ramsey to open up about vision in his creations as well as the future.
Great interview Elle! Ramsey has done so much amazing work! I was intrigued by this quote from him:
"I think it's eminently possible to have a high-tech future. I think it's not as possible to have a high-tech future that feels utopian."
I'm going to have to sit with that for a bit. My initial reaction is to reject that notion. But, perhaps I'm too much of an imaginative idealist at heart.
There's a lot of great stuff here. Thanks for your hard work!
Oh that quote has haunted me. And I do think I agree. The more tech you add to something the more it seems dystopian. But if the tech is more integrated into an organic environment, as he also talked about it, maybe the tech can support our lives, but also be hidden from them? Almost behind the scenes? I'll have to think about it more too (and I still don't know how much I want that to be part of my own novel. Every time I try to add tech, it doesn't feel as idyllic! It's a challenge!)
Hi Elle, I'm very glad you put this together and I'm a new fan of Ramsey (I followed him immediately on Linkedin). The idea of Utopia is one I constantly explore along with all the other aspects of what our future could look like so this really resonated. Lots of really solid insight from someone who is obviously an expert on the subject in a very practical sense. I probably geeked out on this more than is socially acceptable. =]
Catching up on my Elysian back catalog.
Wow! What an insightful interview.
My sense is that the production design for ROP was one of the few things Tolkien fans universally loved from the series.
This conversation got me thinking about The Shire as a utopia (or at least Tolkien's ideal utopia). One of the core challenges Frodo faces, especially in the books, is the sorrow of leaving his home while knowing he'd likely never see it again.
I feel like we could start an entire Tolktopia series on The Elysian.
Tolktopia!!!! Absolutely!!!! The shire is very much a utopia. I wonder if you’d be interested in writing about that as a guest post/discussion? I’d love to really dig into the metaphor you just presented!
Yes, it would be an honor! I feel like I need to insert the clip from Fellowship, "You have my sword."
Also, I bet there's a lot Tolkien/Elysian fan crossover that's waiting to be unleashed.
Let's do it. Email me at elle@elysian.press and let's get something on the content calendar!
Dubai (where I live) is weird because it’s pretty high-tech but does have that dry and cracked feel to it’s surroundings so it’s a mix between utopia and dystopia for sure. I bet if they placed water and a LOT more greenery, opinions could change though.
This was a cool interview and I loved the transcript! To more :)
Oh that's an interesting perspective. I live in the desert too and never thought of it that way, of course we have a lot of desert plants that really bring in the beauty.
Thank you for sharing!
Really enjoyed this interview :)
I read the whole thing to my daughter, because she's a fiction writer. But I was a little surprised when she blanched at the mention of voice-control over hand-control. (The disappearance of switches, buttons, levers, you name it.) So I thought more about that and realized, why, yes, of course that could be a concern. The voice is invisible. The button or switch, visible and dependable. Also, I was suddenly reminded of the importance of hands altogether, on the emotional level. Not just metaphor. But how our hands interact with our brains, through neurological pathways. Okay, so a vote for keeping buttons and switches and levers and pulleys and doors and and and... in a place that is going to feel humanly utopian. :)
Oh I love it, I didn't even think about that!
Beautiful! Ramsey expressed my feelings about what makes a utopia in words
Same!
What a terrific interview!
I found his comments fascinating on including water and trees into a community to make it feel more connected to the world around it. This is intriguing to me from a world-building perspective.
I have a town in my novel that has been a little run down for many years, but despite distance from other communities and finances, I wanted it to gradually reflect positive change - true growth. And even though my small town is surrounded by forest, now I know how I'm going to show that change. Clean up the crime, invest in the infrastructure of the town, and bring the nature that surrounds the town, into the town. Maybe not the bears and mountain lions though.
But because my novel is a mystery, of course there has to be conflict. Secrets, the struggle for power, a mine that promises riches, precious gems...a town that is undergoing an evolution.
Because of all the work you've done and shared with us, now I know how to help my town evolve.
Thank you.
Ooooh, I love how you are incorporating this into your work!!!!! I definitely think things can beautiful, and still have conflict. Just like life 🥰
Great interview! Nobody ever talks to the production designer and he probably has more interesting things to say than the cast. Thanks for this!
I've always thought it strange that everyone always interviews the actors, when the vision belongs to someone else. Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did!
Great read this. The breadth and depth of this is brilliant. Love this
Amazing interview! Shout out to Montreal, I can attest it’s a hipster utopia!
I really need to go. Next on our list!
Such a great interview! Ramsey's designs are fantastic. And I didn't know about Neom; what a mind-blowing concept.
I’m actually very into it
What a wonderful interview. Your optimism shows through yet you ask a great series of questions that challenge Ramsey to open up about vision in his creations as well as the future.
Great piece and interview, thanks Elle.
Now I want to visit Montreal even more!
I thought the visuals in the Rings of Power were superb. The story, unfortunately ... not so much.
Oh I'm with you. I am planning a trip to Montreal ASAP!
(I happen to be one of the few who also loves the story!🤓)
Great interview Elle! Ramsey has done so much amazing work! I was intrigued by this quote from him:
"I think it's eminently possible to have a high-tech future. I think it's not as possible to have a high-tech future that feels utopian."
I'm going to have to sit with that for a bit. My initial reaction is to reject that notion. But, perhaps I'm too much of an imaginative idealist at heart.
There's a lot of great stuff here. Thanks for your hard work!
Oh that quote has haunted me. And I do think I agree. The more tech you add to something the more it seems dystopian. But if the tech is more integrated into an organic environment, as he also talked about it, maybe the tech can support our lives, but also be hidden from them? Almost behind the scenes? I'll have to think about it more too (and I still don't know how much I want that to be part of my own novel. Every time I try to add tech, it doesn't feel as idyllic! It's a challenge!)
Hi Elle, I'm very glad you put this together and I'm a new fan of Ramsey (I followed him immediately on Linkedin). The idea of Utopia is one I constantly explore along with all the other aspects of what our future could look like so this really resonated. Lots of really solid insight from someone who is obviously an expert on the subject in a very practical sense. I probably geeked out on this more than is socially acceptable. =]
I geeked out on this more than is socially acceptable too so I'm glad I'm not alone 😅
I love this -- it brings together my lifelong love of sci fi, urban planning and utopianism.
Also inspires me to transform some of my own podcast interviews into posts based on transcripts.
Nicely done!
Mine too!!!!!!! I'm definitely a transcript person. I never listen to anything. 😆
Stay tuned for my long form interview with Kim Stanley Robinson!
Don’t want to be picky, but I think „Casa Doom“ is spelled Khazad-dûm. 🙈
Ha!!!!! I knew I was going to mess that up lol.
It is probably the worst name. 😅
Marvelous, Elle. Ramsey is both fascinating and eloquent.