asterroc: (Astro - H-alpha)
asterroc ([personal profile] asterroc) wrote2015-07-15 07:47 am

Pluto features

Features on Pluto are being named after non-Western myths and characters from Western fantasy novels.

A large splotch that resembles a whale was named Cthulhu, a deity from a H. P. Lovecraft story. Other splotch names included Meng-Po, the goddess of forgetfulness in Chinese mythology; Balrog, a creature in J. R. R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” books; and Vucub Came and Hun Came, death gods of Mayan mythology. --NY Times, Kenneth Chang


On the one hand, I'm always happy when they go to non-Western myth. On the other hand, it feels disrespectful to put them on the same level as Western fantasy novels.

Discuss.

Originally posted on Dreamwidth. comment count unavailable comments there. Comment here or there.

[identity profile] q10.livejournal.com 2015-07-15 05:19 pm (UTC)(link)
i don't have any deep insights, but both of your reactions sound like pretty sensible and appropriate ones.