Tamara sends along word about a Tolkien lecture at Harvard: While my program doesn’t allow for any “outside” classes, I just noticed that they offered an inaugural Tolkien course this spring, with the first lecture available on-line. Here’s the link below, but I may audit this one next year, if it is still around! Commencement is today, so I’m not sure how long this will be available, but I enjoyed two very interesting hours listening/watching! More..
ANTH E-164 Tolkien as Translator: Language, Culture, and Society in Middle-Earth (23228) – Marc Zender, PhD, Lecturer on Anthropology, Harvard University.
As the purported “translation” of ancient records from before the dawn of accepted history, J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings grapples with themes of language and identity rarely encountered in fantasy novels. In this course, students study the role of language in making the cultures and societies of Middle-Earth come alive, and are introduced to concepts from linguistic anthropology that shed light on Tolkien’s methods and purpose.
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Thank to Ringer Rick for sending in this link to this Lord of the Rings themed Strange Brew cartoon. [View]
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From ADC Publications: Renowned Tolkien Artist, Ted Nasmith, has just sent us three new images ready for our August 2010 Exhibition and we can now unveil these latest Original artwork’s and make them available to the public prior to our FREE ENTRY “Edge of the Wild” Middle-earth Art Exhibition in August. ( 13-16 Aug at The Redesdale Hall, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos, UK) Continue reading “Ted Nasmith Art for Sale at ‘Edge of the Wild’”
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Ringer spy Earl provided a story hot of the presses from the Los Angeles Times that says MGM’s management is no longer in control of the studio’s fate and that debtholders are now the decision makers.
The MGM Saga is developing into a film-worthy drama all its own (one that will never get a greenlight) and the article states: “The internal divide and lingering uncertainty demonstrate how tortured MGM’s reorganization process has been and how the balance of power has shifted from management to lenders.”
For fans this means that non-entertainment types are now calling the shots and how that plays out is completely unpredictable. There is one tidbit about the two movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” to be directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced by Peter Jackson:
“Though Time Warner’s bid has not been officially rejected, people at the media giant’s Warner Bros. studio have been frustrated by the protracted process, in part because it and MGM co-own the rights to movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” which are currently in development.”
The article explains a lot more of the intricacies of what is going on. How does this fit with the report that filming will start in November? We have our feelers out and will update you as soon as we hear anything definite.
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While it isn’t exactly “news” it will be of a lot of interest to those who haven’t seen the 2011 version of the annual Tolkien calendar that Cor Blok is next year’s artist.
Blok is the only Tolkien artist living who met J.R.R. Tolkien in person and the English professor bought two paintings from the Dutch professor (history of art) and was given a third as a gift. Blok’s work, produced 50 years ago, is a definite departure from the more familiar works many fans are used to. He reportedly produced over 100 illustrations. You can pre-order it here and you can read a recent interview with Blok here. It is scheduled to be available in July.
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From WAMC Radio: ALBANY, NY (WAMC) – Author Simon Tolkien received rave reviews for his first legal thriller, The Final Witness. Now, in The Inheritance, Tolkien sharpens his craft even more, deftly weaving psychological suspense and family drama to create a mystery steeped in memories, betrayal, and the long shadow of the past.
This book is very different than the famed writings of his Grandfather, J.R.R. Tolkien. Part courtroom drama and part historical thriller, The Inheritance is a dark thriller that tests the strength of blood ties, loyalty, and revenge. More..
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