Expertise Report in Gollum Case: He is a Good Hobbit at Heart
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Expertise report has been submitted in the insulting against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan case following the release of photos displaying Erdoğan next to "Gollum" character from Lord of the Rings.
The expert has made analyses of "Smeagol/Gollum" character.
"His past, forgotten side..."
According to the report of Eda Yıldırım from the Evrensel daily, the report of the expertise committee stated as director of the series, Peter Jackson that the character in the photo is not Gollum, but Smeagol.
CLICK - PETER JACKSON: IT IS NOT GOLLUM BUT SMEAGOL IN THE PHOTOS
"Smeagol is a peaceful, loyal, positive, and good Hobbit at heart. But still, the concept of "good" and "evil" are not demarcated with definite lines. It is trying to be told viewers that Smeagol is 'Past of Gollum, his forgotten side', and Gollum is a good hobbit at heart before being possessed by the ring".
Discharged from civil service, being tried
In the photo, which has caused Bilgin to be charged with "insulting public officer", and even discharge of family doctor Bilgin from civil service, then Prime Minister Erdoğan is taking place next to Smeagol/Gollum.
Çiftçi was discharged from civil service on October 12, 2015 because of the photo he shared on August 23, 2014.
"Poor/pathetic character"
The report stating the most detailed and illuminating analyses regarding Smeagol and Gollum was made by Claire Valente cites the following comment of Valente:
"The character of Gollum underlines the importance that Tolkien and Jackson attach to mercy. Jackson reflects Tolkien's Gollum portray as a 'poor/pathetic' character rather than evil".
The report in its conclusion as a result of all academic studies and research, it is out of question that Smeagol has positive aspects but Gollum also cannot entirely be defined as "evil".
The report added that "the character of Gollum is being portrayed as victim or oppressed rather than evil as widely referred by the viewers".
What had happened?
A prosecution has been launched against doctor Bilgin Çifti who shared photos Smeagol and President Erdoğan juxtaposed on Facebook. In February, penalty of 20 caveat points was imposed by Aydın Public Health Directorate, but drawn back by Aydın Governorate in July.
Afterwards, Çiftçi was indicted for "defaming public official" by Aydın Chief Public Prosecution and Çiftçi charged with "Publishing or sharing any banned statement, banner, poster or the likes" has been imposed penalty of "discharging from civil service".
In this trial of Çiftçi also being tried over defaming the President, it was ruled to assign expert witness to determine whether Gollum is evil.
Filmin Yönetmeni Peter Jackson da kendini açıklama yapmak zorunda hissetti, fotoğraftaki karakterin "iyi özellikteki Smeagol olduğunu" söyledi.
Director of the movie, Peter Jackson felt obliged to make a statement, and said that the character in photo is "Smeagol who is the good side of the hobbit".
US political comedian Stephen Clobert hade made fun of the Gollum case.
The verdict took place in international news organizations such as the Guardian, Independent, and FOX. (EA/TK)
* In the trilogy, Gollum living in dark and damp caves returns to his former identity, Smeagol as he started a journey with Sam and Frodo. In the movie, we see Gollum's efforts to repossess Gollum and dialogues between the two.