America

[MichaelM]

Just something i noticed as i wrote the <a href='http://www.artemisfowl.fangathering.com/art_real_world_locations.html' target='_blank'>real world locations page</a>

Does Eoin Colfer have something against/for America? (I cant really decide which it is )

But anyways, read the page, then read this to understand

There are only 7 major locations used in the series. Three of them are Ireland, Tara and London.

However, three of the others are Ho Chi Minh, Munich and Russia.

Ho Chi Minh is in Vietnam, which was invaded by the USA in the 70s.
Munich is in Germany, which was invaded by the USA in WW2.
Russia is the largest part of the former Soviet Union, which the USA was at a Cold War with for the second half of the 20th Century.

As for the final location, it was Chicago, in the USA itself! And who did Colfer choose to place there? Jon Spiro. An enemy!

And does this mean Colfer likes, or dislikes the USA? (Or neither - And im reading too far into it? )

After all - Artemis went to each of these places, and won. In Russia, Germany, and the US, something bad had happened (ie. kidnap, robbery and evil-guy) - So Artemis solved the problem. In the same way the US did perhaps? Therefore, US are good

On the other hand - Perhaps hes drawing attention to how the US went to these countries in force? (In the same way Artemis did - After all, he took something from each country (ie. Russia = Father, Germany = Painting, Ho Chi Minh = Knowledge). And of course - Chicago being the source of Spiro


To be honest - I dont really think its either. There are a load of far better reasons to choose those locations, as explained on the webpage, so thats probably what colfer was actually thinking

Or he may just be interested in modern history, and chosen those locations, as he knew of them?

Who knows? Anyways - After this big post - Thoughts plz!

[KittyRainbow]

Don't forget that Juliet was born in the US! So it doesn't have totally negative connotations...

The "Arty taking something from them" theory is interesting but personally I think that's reading too much into it. :wacko: I doubt Colfer chose them for any reason like that.

I think mainly he just wanted a kind of jet-set, international feeling to the books. Also he seems to have visited/lived in/worked in many of the locations that he's set AF or other books, so I guess he's just sticking to the old writer's adage of "write what you know".

[darvit]

Michael--You came up with all these? I'm impressed! B) You're thinking like a true scholar of the school of literary criticism!

But there could be error in allegory. There's a downside in attributing these themes and patterns to actual events and issues... Kitty is right, you could've overread Eoin's intentions and everything could be just an innocent effort in making the books more real.

I have to warn you though--most authors dislike allegory and literary criticism. :unsure:

[Juliet]

<_< If he did, I wouldn't read them.

[KittyRainbow]

I have to warn you though--most authors dislike allegory and literary criticism. :unsure:

Really? Well, I'm not an author yet, but I hope to be some day... I think there's a time and a place for things like that. Some people take it completely over the top. Most authors never intentionally put that sort of thing in, so to look at it, I feel, would mostly be a wasted exercise.

But if an author genuinely has developed the story to that kind of depth, it can be very rewarding and bring you a new understanding and appreciation of the text. (For example, I liked Wide Sargasso Sea before I really started to analyse it. Now I love it, because I can see exactly what genius crafted each bit of it.) And perhaps in such a case it would be more annoying if nobody bothered to look at it!

(I mean, obviously these things have an unconscious effect upon the readers, so they're not totally wasted if you don't study them, but... You get more out of them if you do.)

[Simbelmyne]

I guess it's no always that nice for you as a writer to have your works interpreted and there are also critics that really think they know better than the author what he wanted to say. You could write about a tree and be just a tree and not some symbol of, for example, how much you miss your parents (:whistle:). As for allegory, I know for sure that Tolkien disliked it, because he fought against it, but I'm sure there are many who do.

I also think that there isn't so much into those locations...besides, even London is not a good place for Artemis, considering what happened to Butler...In addition to what people here already said, I wanted to say that you could find connections between any country, because after all, our worl is not so big anymore. and this especially applyes to usa which has been a very active country

what's with the painting..er..I don't want to know

[darvit]

As for allegory, I know for sure that Tolkien disliked it, because he fought against it, but I'm sure there are many who do.

Yes, I was referring to Tolkien's "strong abhorrence" for allegory in my previous post.

(I mean, obviously these things have an unconscious effect upon the readers, so they're not totally wasted if you don't study them, but... You get more out of them if you do.)

Actually I wish that readers could easily ask authors about things such as these... It would ease answer our bothering questions and would ease our minds. If anyone gets the chance to interview Eoin Colfer, please ask him about the books' allegorical potential.

[Commander Ensec]

I don't know. I don't think the reasons posted mean that Colfer dosn't like the US. I mean, the page posted has a point.

[hobboy]

Well, if you look at it, it seems logical. Yes, maybe Colfer does have something against the United States. But maybe Colfer does not.

Thinking about it, I think he chose some places which are, well, different. Remember he is Irish and might have been interested in Vietnam, Germany, and Russia.

I think he chose Russia for his father's capture and rescue because Russia is a very large place and a lot of places in that particular country is isolated from civilization. I think Colfer makes it a point to involve Russia to make it look more, um, desperate? for Artemis and co. to save Artemis Sr.

I think he chose Vietnam because he finds the country amazing? Well, if you think about it, almost all countries are amazing. But, he could have chosen China or Japan and it wouldn't matter. Countries in Asia seem kinda, well, weird? I mean, everything there is different and all countries have a different belief. Maybe Vietnam was just a part of his lottery and won. :huh:

As for Germany. I've got no idea whatsoever. Is Munich like, a center of arts and literature? Just a thought.

Well, it seems a little coincidential. Well, if in the Lost Colony, something about the Philippines comes up, then maybe he does have something against the USA. The Philippines was under the Americans after defeating the Spaniards. Spain took over the Philippines for over 400 years and USA came, and played like heroes, took over. So, there.


And oh yeah, Michael? I think you need more sleep.

[Commander Ensec]

Agreed. Hobboy makes a good point. We will just have to see what comes up in the lost coloney.

[MMK]

I think it's a coincidence...

Not to be against my own country, because I love living here, but it's hard to find a major country that the US has not had some conflict or involvement with. Or maybe I just think that because I'm American.

Anyway, the only thing I can find for/against a country in Artemis Fowl is that it's for Ireland (of course). And it's prettty obvious why.

[BlackOpal]

I think that it is a coincidence too. I think Iraq and Afganistan would be part of that too. Plus, they invaded Germany, but they weren't really the leaders of that. They kind of just helped. Very good thinking though, how would you think of that? I guess that's how Artemis thinks all of the time.

[Minerva_Paradizo]

nothing is ever a mistake every thing happens for a reason. colfer may not no it but he is probly part of the grand design somehow and chose these places to wake us up some how!

[untarnishedsoul]

IF Mr. COlfer was bias against the US, I guessed he would make his stand clear. After all he attacked so many GLOBAL problems, pollution and humans, and development, attacked whalers... attacked steel

Maybe he's just changing. I 've read too many US located books. MAYBE HE WANTS IT TO BE DIFFFERENT.

AND all the locations are all so nice, and not normal big cities. DOn't read too much in it. It's just probably you are too literaturish and finding errors. That didn't come out as I would've liked it to. Not meaning to be rude.

[untarnishedsoul]

For the lost coloney, he used out of the world places, Hybras, Limbo, SPace, MOon.

T he real world locations are Nice, France|Taipei. Taiwan| Barcelona, Spain| and i have no idea whhere Silicy is though. I can see taiwan, but NOT spain. so i think he's just picking places at random