Abstract - Anthropology according to Tolkien’s mythology
Background. Research perspective is given to us by: the personalistic integral anthropology, the anthropology of psychophysical progress, concepts of radical humanism and genetic immortality, selected theories of myth and archetype, and the anthropology of martial arts.
Aim. The aim of the analysis is to extract and present the deeper (ontological, epistemological, and axiological) meaning of the main epic works by Tolkien and their film adaptations by Jackson. This includes references to the timeless, moral and spiritual spheres, and to the history and today’s threats to Western/Latin civilization.
Methods. The main method is a hermeneutic analysis of literature and qualitative analysis of mass media content. The source material is selected from epic works by Tolkien and their film adaptations by Jackson.
Results. Middle-earth mythology is akin to the Christian tradition. Tolkien opposes good and Western civilization, and the forces of evil. Individuals of different power of the spirit - from giants to small hobbits – fight. We find here the fairytale archetypes (dragons, magic) and the military culture. Jackson films perfectly reflect the meaning of the novel.
Conclusions. Jackson works simultaneously fit into film genres of fantasy and martial arts. They are concerned with warriors and warfare. Then there are the ethical dimensions, which fit significant educational value of books and films about Middle-earth. The saga of Middle-earth gives a valuable message of the righteous and the wicked attitudes, in the eternal spiritual warfare of Good and Evil forces. Today the descendants of Indo-European warriors can follow the example of courage and bravery of those archetypal heroes of Europe.