...for the Tolkien 2005 convention on Thursday. So I although I have things to say about Tony Blair and Conan the Barbarian (that's two seperate essays) don't expect me to post anything here for about a week.
Is it just me, or does it not seem a little strange to combine a fan convention with what seems, in essence, to be a literary conference.
I mean, it sounds like a natural thing, but the professors I've known tend to be the types that would be rather uncomfortable in the middle of a crowd of Aragorn, Frodo, Eowyn and Legolas look-alikes. (Incidentally, I think that random order coincidentally goes from most masculine to most feminine. Coincidences are cool.)
I don't know if the Tolkien 2005 do is an "academic conference" in that sense; it looks like the usual suspects from the Tolkien Society. Oxonmoot talks are probably a bit more academic than is usual at a fan-con, but definitely not "academic". As I may have mentioned, Oxonmoot is often more like a Christian Union meeting than anything else (all sit round and read a passage out of the Book and say a few words about what it means to you...) I'll report when I get back.
From the Guardian article: Wearing a blue feather in a felt hat, a blue cape and carrying a posy of lavender, Mr Bombadil - real name Firiel Tindomerel - flew from Switzerland to Birmingham as Middle Earth came to the Midlands yesterday.
With a name like Firiel Tindomerel, why'd he feel the need to change it? I can already imagine countless Elven ballads to Firiel Tindomerel.
Is it just me, or does it not seem a little strange to combine a fan convention with what seems, in essence, to be a literary conference.
ReplyDeleteI mean, it sounds like a natural thing, but the professors I've known tend to be the types that would be rather uncomfortable in the middle of a crowd of Aragorn, Frodo, Eowyn and Legolas look-alikes. (Incidentally, I think that random order coincidentally goes from most masculine to most feminine. Coincidences are cool.)
I don't know if the Tolkien 2005 do is an "academic conference" in that sense; it looks like the usual suspects from the Tolkien Society. Oxonmoot talks are probably a bit more academic than is usual at a fan-con, but definitely not "academic". As I may have mentioned, Oxonmoot is often more like a Christian Union meeting than anything else (all sit round and read a passage out of the Book and say a few words about what it means to you...) I'll report when I get back.
ReplyDeleteAndrew said:
ReplyDeleteI have things to say about Tony Blair and Conan the Barbarian (that's two seperate essays)
Ohhhhhh!
Perhaps thopugh Andrew might care to wothhold his inevitable 'Virgin' experiences. One can have too much of a good thing....
ReplyDeleteBecause they take slightly longer to come.
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1548256,00.html
ReplyDeletefor the Guardian's take on Tolkien 2005
Which mercifully few references to geeks or nerds, and resisted an editorial comment from Mark Lawson.
From the Guardian article: Wearing a blue feather in a felt hat, a blue cape and carrying a posy of lavender, Mr Bombadil - real name Firiel Tindomerel - flew from Switzerland to Birmingham as Middle Earth came to the Midlands yesterday.
ReplyDeleteWith a name like Firiel Tindomerel, why'd he feel the need to change it? I can already imagine countless Elven ballads to Firiel Tindomerel.