Seminar speakers announced – Tolkien and Diversity

Tolkien Society ^ | 06 09 2021 | Will Sherwood

[yesthatjallen]

While interest in the topic of diversity has steadily grown within Tolkien research, it is now receiving more critical attention than ever before. Spurred by recent interpretations of Tolkien’s creations and the cast list of the upcoming Amazon show The Lord of the Rings, it is crucial we discuss the theme of diversity in relation to Tolkien. How do adaptations of Tolkien’s works (from film and art to music) open a discourse on diversity within Tolkien’s works and his place within modern society? Beyond his secondary-world, diversity further encompasses Tolkien’s readership and how his texts exist within the primary world. Who is reading Tolkien? How is he understood around the globe? How may these new readings enrich current perspectives on Tolkien?

SNIP

* Speakers and papers *

Cordeliah Logsdon – Gondor in Transition: A Brief Introduction to Transgender Realities in The Lord of the Rings

Clare Moore – The Problem of Pain: Portraying Physical Disability in the Fantasy of J. R. R. Tolkien

V. Elizabeth King – “The Burnt Hand Teaches Most About Fire”: Applying Traumatic Stress and Ecological Frameworks to Narratives of Displacement and Resettlement Across Cultures in Tolkien’s Middle-earth

Christopher Vaccaro – Pardoning Saruman?: The Queer in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

Sultana Raza – Projecting Indian Myths, Culture and History onto Tolkien’s Worlds

Nicholas Birns – The Lossoth: Indigeneity, Identity, and Antiracism

Kristine Larsen – The Problematic Perimeters of Elrond Half-elven and Ronald English-Catholic

Cami Agan – Hearkening to the Other: Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth

Sara Brown – The Invisible Other: Tolkien’s Dwarf-Women and the ‘Feminine Lack’

Sonali Chunodkar – Desire of the Ring: An Indian Academic’s Adventures in her Quest for the Perilous Realm

Robin Reid – Queer Atheists, Agnostics, and Animists, Oh, My!

Joel Merriner – Hidden Visions: Iconographies of Alterity in Soviet Bloc Illustrations for The Lord of the Rings

Eric Reinders – Questions of Caste in The Lord of the Rings and its Multiple Chinese Translations

Dawn Walls-Thumma – Stars Less Strange: An Analysis of Fanfiction and Representation within the Tolkien Fan Community

Danna Petersen-Deeprose – “Something Mighty Queer”: Destabilizing Cishetero Amatonormativity in the Works of Tolkien

Martha Celis-Mendoza – Translation as a means of representation and diversity in Tolkien’s scholarship and fandom

[Dr. Franklin]

The only physical differences between men and elves that were noted by Tolkien is that elf eyes glowed a bit and they were about 6” taller than the average man.
Otherwise, elves and men were indistinguishable when not closely observed

So we all just imagined the pointy Vulcan ears?

[Jonty30]

Tolkien left the idea of elven ears up to the interpretation of the reader.

[Jonty30]

https://middle-earth.xenite.org/do-tolkiens-elves-have-pointy-ears/

Another distinguishing point, according to this website, is that elves had more beautiful voices. However, you’d have to talk to them to know that, but it was unlikely that they’d talk to you if they could help it.

[Still Thinking]

Aruh? Liv Tyler is plenty feminine (although Eowyn is more my speed)

[broken_clock]

Agreed. I’ll take a Shieldmaiden of Rohan any day ;-)

[Flick Lives]

And kudos to Jackson for not flinching in the making of the films.

—

Jackson made the movies in the pre-woke age. They’d be impossible now.

[Sapwolf]

LUNATICS!

[Mariner]

How is it possible for anyone to care whether his work is diverse?

Besides, there are characters in the works that are more diverse than any on earth...

[grey_whiskers]

And their emblem was the White Hand for Saruman the White.

Well, until Gandalf was returned from death.

'Saruman!' he cried, and his voice grew in power and authority. 'Behold, I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council.' He raised his hand, and spoke slowly in a clear cold voice. 'Saruman, your staff is broken.' There was a crack, and the staff split asunder in Saruman's hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf's feet. 'Go!' said Gandalf. With a cry Saruman fell back and crawled away.

[Bob Ireland]

*** V. Elizabeth King – “The Burnt Hand Teaches Most About Fire”: Applying Traumatic Stress and Ecological Frameworks to Narratives of Displacement and Resettlement Across Cultures in Tolkien’s Middle-earth

Jabberwocky

'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

I guess I have lived too long, Red. None of the titles convey a cause for sensible interest.

Just how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
Thanks for the heads up. :^/

[Bob Ireland]

***JRR Tolkein’s son Christopher died a few years ago. He was the last true gatekeeper of his father’s legacy. The current estate managers seem less interested in his work and more interest in monetizing it***

I can testify to that! http://quicksilver899.com/Tolkien/Tolkien_Dictionary.html How many angels can dance on the head of a pin? Tolkien's original impassioned lifetime dedication to an idea is lost in pettifoggery.

[Dr. Franklin]

Aruh? Liv Tyler is plenty feminine (although Eowyn is more my speed)

The issue isn't Liv Tyler, it's how her character Arwen is portrayed. Tolkien's women are much more traditional women than the modern age expects, and wants to project for the younger generation. Tolkien wrote about a much more courtly love and adoration of Galadriel, and her grand-daughter Arwen, and not Xena type warrior women. The contrast between the two is between Galadriel, the morning star born in Valinor who had witnessed the Two Trees and reflected their radiance on those who beheld her, and Arwen, the evening star of human descent who gives birth to kings of the last age. (And even though this is a comparison and contrast of a woman and her grand-daughter, Elven women are not mere mortals and age quite well!) Neither is portrayed by the author as a warrior type.

Éowyn is the exceptional strong woman in Tolkien's universe, not the rule. I've always thought that she was inspired by Shakespeare's tricky prophecy that "no man of woman born" would kill Macbeth. (The Tree Ents were inspired by the "moving forest" in Macbeth.) So, when the Nazgul witch king proclaims that no man can kill him, Éowyn laughs that she is not a man and cancels his spell of protection, killing the wraith. Tolkien intended her as some kind of romantic human temptation for Aragorn in his pursuit of Arwen. There is the contrast between the Saxon type woman of Rohan with the regal half-Elven Arwen. Both are very beautiful in the Jackson films. Call me sexist, but I had anticipated a younger looking Galadriel than Kate Blanchett, (because Elven women don't age like humans...)

[Bigg Red]

I was horrified to see the topics of these various workshops. Almost did not ping you because I knew you would be so disappointed, but I thought you would want to know anyway.

[Bogey78O]

The concept of an elf existed prior to Tolkein. Traditional drawings showed them as small fae like creatures with pointed ears. Sort of like Santa’s elves. Tolkein did something similar with goblins. Used an existing creature of lore and defined it within his world.

If I remember correctly.

[Reily]

Tolkien was an expert on the Anglo-Saxons - their history, culture and literature. He brought Beowulf out of obscurity and now almost all read it (or did !) as part of their introduction to English literature. Elves, goblins, fairies, orcs all originate from Anglo-Saxon and European folklore. Tolkien gave them life in our imagination again !

[Dr. Franklin]

I was horrified to see the topics of these various workshops. Almost did not ping you because I knew you would be so disappointed, but I thought you would want to know anyway.

This is more about the prevalence of wokism on campus than anything else. Tolkien could never have envisioned this being "found" in his work.

[Bob Ireland]

***I was horrified to see the topics of these various workshops. Almost did not ping you because I knew you would be so disappointed, but I thought you would want to know anyway***

Thanks, BR... I will endure! :^D

[Bigg Red]

Exactly. I am sure he is spinning in his grave.

[Sirius Lee]

Tolkien left the idea of elven ears up to the interpretation of the reader.

Could get past the ears if I had a couple of drinks or even force myself to not notice if it was my duty to - you know - comfort her.