[ggm]

Arguments about symbols and words are Godwin's law transcribed. It's a descent into past times and the current meaning of things more benign at the origin.

On the LOTR theme there's an old re-reading which projects the Orcs as exploited workers, the elvish wars as battles amongst ubermensch.

[arjie]

The Last Ringbearer is some more fan-fiction in the LOTR world that does this as well. I found it fairly entertaining, though I think LOTR as it stands is extraordinary, especially when told from the lens of not being the main story but a later side questy bit.