Ian Collier sends this along: In response to calls for more events around the world the Tolkien Society Seminar for 2007 is happening in two parts, one “up here” and the other “downunder”. The seminars are being arranged by the Tolkien Society in partnership with The Cambridge Tolkien Society and Tol Harndor: The Australian Tolkien Society.
The Northern Hemisphere Tolkien Society Seminar
Women in Tolkien, Saturday, 16th June
Wolfson Court, Girton, Cambridge
The ‘northern’ seminar in Cambridge has the theme of “Women in Tolkien” and the weekend will also include an evening mead tasting (for those who are over eighteen years of age) and a punt-moot on the Sunday to Grantchester complete with a picnic lunch.
Interested in Giving a Paper?
Papers should be either 20 or 45 minutes long to fit into half-hour or hour slots with time for questions or discussion. There may also be scope to accommodate a number of short 10-minute presentations. Please send the title, a short summary/abstract and the intended length to the Seminar organiser:
Registration Costs: Tolkien Society members: £28.00 & Non-members: £30.00
The registration fee covers attendance at the seminar, a light lunch and morning and afternoon tea and coffee. The mead tasting is £5.00 per head for members and £7.00 per head for non-members.
The Punt moot will be £15-£20 for punt-hire depending on numbers.
The closing date for registration is 6th June, however spaces are limited so to secure your place please book early.
The Southern Hemisphere Tolkien Society Seminar
The Art and Science of Magic in Middle-earth
Saturday, 25th August, NSW Writers’ Centre, Sydney, Australia
This significant annual event in the Tolkien calendar is being held overseas for the first time in Sydney, Australia. With attendees travelling from around the world this will have an international festive feel. The magic of Middle-earth is wide-ranging in scope and can cover not only all aspects of magic in the works of Tolkien but also the enchantment that Tolkien’s writings have instilled in Tolkien fans far and wide. The seminar will be held at the NSW Writers’ Centre, the Centre was established to promote writing-based culture and the rights and interests of writers and offers literary resources and professional information to established and aspiring writers of all kinds.
Interested in Giving a Paper?
Some potential topics for consideration might be:
- The limitations or laws of magic in Middle-earth
- The various forms of magic
- The supernatural
- Tolkien’s magic compared to other authors of ‘modern’ fantasy
- Is Tolkien’s magic mystical and without explanation or is there evidence of science? How did the Inkling’s view magic/science?
- The magic of words, spells, music and language
- The presence of magic in the classics such as Beowulf, The Kalevala, and Edda.
- The effects of magic on events during the Ages. Was it pivotal?
- The differences in how magic was used and viewed by the various races
- The enchantment of Tolkien’s writings
- The dark arts of Middle-earth and the corruption of magic
- Magic in a religious context
Papers should be either 20 or 45 minutes long to fit into half-hour or hour slots with time for questions/discussion. There may also be scope to accommodate a number of short 10-minute presentations. Please send the title, a short summary/abstract and the intended length to the Seminar organiser:
Registration Costs:
Registration costs for Tolkien Society members are: Aus$25.00, or GBP £10.00, or US$20.00.
Non-members rates are Aus$30.00, or GBP £12.00, or US$24.00.
Lunch and refreshments are included in the registration fee. There is an option of a Sydney Harbour cruise on Sunday if there is sufficient interest.
The closing date for registration is 25th July, however, spaces are limited so to secure your place please book early.
To register please bear in mind Cambridge by 6th June & Sydney by 25th July
All enquiries about bookings for these events should be directed to The Booking Officer:
The Booking Officer, 7 Rievaulx Drive, Morton-on-Swale, Northallerton, DL7 9UE, UK.
E-mail: bookings@tolkiensociety.org
For the Sydney Seminar only, please contact Michael Kennedy if you live in Australia:
Michael Kennedy, 27 Hennessy Lane, Figtree, NSW, 2525, Australia.
E-mail: pacific@tolkiensociety.org
For the Sydney Seminar only, please contact Anne Riney if you live in the USA
Anne Riney, 5241 College View Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90041, USA
E-mail: usd.bookings@tolkiensociety.org
