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Fall term and summer reviews
I am halfway into the fall term — always a busy time with meetings, grading, and class preparations. It’s hard to find time for research — or blogging. But one thing that I like to do whenever I have a half hour or so is to review videos of past conference presentations or listen to…
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Mallorn now an open-access resource for Tolkien fans and researchers
A new resource has opened up for anyone interested in Tolkien fandom and research. The journal Mallorn is now open access and free (except for the last two years as part of a rolling paywall). As I was browsing the issues I couldn’t help noticing the range of articles and fan creations, including discussions about…
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Tolkien Conference Season, May-July 2021
Conference season is upon us again, and just like last year’s sessions, the meetings I’m interested in are being held online. While nothing can replace sitting on a university patio in the summer sun drinking mead with new and old conference friends, we’ll have to make do with virtual reality. As I’ve said before, the…
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Tolkien Fandom Oral History Collection
Three minutes, three questions – that’s all it takes. The Tolkien Fandom Oral History Collection is looking for more volunteers to record their experiences as Tolkien fans. I did it! It was fun and informal, though the three minutes were up before I knew it. You can schedule an interview by following the link on…
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“It depends on what you mean by use”: teaching and learning in the arts now
I was going to write to celebrate Tolkien Reading Day (March 25) as I usually do, with a post on “Leaf by Niggle,” one of the texts recommended by the Tolkien Society for this year’s theme of Nature vs. Industry. However, as we were approaching Tolkien Reading Day, COVID-19 cases started to pop up in…
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Adaptation as Analysis, part 3: “Misty Mountains” video
This is the third post showcasing the work of some of my students in my Tolkien and medievalism class this year. You can find Part 1 and Part 2 at these links. As I’ve explained in previous posts, I give my students the option of creating an adaptation in any medium of Tolkien’s work or…
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Ironic Silmarillion Collectibles? Adaptation as Analysis, part 2
This is the second in a series showcasing student projects in my Tolkien and medievalism course this year. Given the option of producing an adaptation of a medieval text or a work by Tolkien, my students can sometimes surprise me in their creative choices, as did Jordan Audas, who created Silmarillion collectible “toys” — with…
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CFP: Queer Tolkien Studies at PCA 2018
This call for papers comes from Robin Reid, organizer of the Tolkien Studies area at the PCA/ACA national conference. CFP: Queer Tolkien Studies Paper Session(s) and Roundtable For PCA/ACA 2018 National Conference J.W. Marriott Indianapolis Downtown, Indianapolis, IN, US March 28-31, 2018 http://pcaaca.org/national-conference/ Deadline for Submission: SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 These sessions will be co-sponsored by…
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And another call: Tolkien at PCA/ACA 2018
Organizer Robin Reid has sent out a call for papers for the Tolkien Studies area at the 2018 Popular Culture Association conference, to be held March 28-31 in Indianapolis, IN, US. Below is a copy of the CFP, also available for download here: PCA 2018 CFP [pdf] PCA/ACA 2018 NATIONAL CONFERENCE TOLKIEN STUDIES AREA CFP…