Monthly Archives: October 2016

“Capes and Classes Optional” Guest Blog by Adam Mattern (Signum Series)

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Adam Mattern works as a mild-mannered data analyst for a large networking company and is currently studying at Signum University for a M.A. in Language & Literature (concentration in Classical, Medieval & Renaissance Literature). He has love of pop geek-culture, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictional Worlds, Guest Blogs | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

“Stranger Things” Live Video Chat with @BrentonDana & @TolkienProf

Posted on October 24, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Stranger Things is one of the hottest new series on Netflix this fall. My wife and I don’t always overlap in tastes, but this show drew us both in. We zoomed through the series in late night sittings, and I … Continue reading →

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The Milk Carton Kids Live: Great Music for English Majors (Friday Feature)

Posted on October 21, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

If you don’t know, the Milk Carton Kids are an indie folk duo with Americana sensibilities. They’ve been on my playlist since I saw them on youtube on an NPR Tiny Desk concert. Kind of a Simon & Garfunkel for … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Word of the Day: “Trumpery”

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

“I have sold all my Trumpery: not a counterfeit Stone, not a Ribbon, Glass, Pomander, Brouch  to keep my Pack from fasting,” Shakespeare, Winter’s Tale IV.4.598 I came across a new word the other day: trumpery. I knew it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Announcement: “Getting Medieval With C.S. Lewis” A Theology on Tap with Chris Armstrong

Posted on October 17, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

One of my favourite speaking events ever was my “Hobbit’s Theology” talk at a Theology on Tap last winter. This is a local tradition where professors and wordsmiths share their leading discoveries at a “Research on Tap,” or where they talk … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Introducing The Mythgard Academy

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

As an independent scholar, I have the opportunity to work with a number of great schools. One of them is Signum University. SignumU is an established online university offering an MA in literature to a growing global community of adult learners. … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Canadian Thanksgiving; a Sonnet for my Canadian Friends

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on Malcolm Guite:
The True North Strong and Free (on the Victoria Ferry!) As this Monday 10th October is Thanksgiving Day in Canada I am posting here a sonnet for Thanksgiving which I have written for all  my…

Posted in Reflections | 16 Comments

Giving Thanks

Posted on October 9, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Originally posted on the traveller's path:
Here in Canada we are celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend. We don’t have the stories of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower, but we do have a wonderful tradition of giving thanks in this country…

Posted in Reflections | 8 Comments

Why I am not Anglican: A Response to Rachel Held Evans

Posted on October 6, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

Why should I be, after all? Of all the many branches—or scattered splinters—of Christianity, why should I address this particular and peculiar English Episcopalian one? Some already assume that I am Anglican, simply because I am engaged in the project … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Reflections, Reviews, Thoughtful Essays | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Why Religion Matters: A Mini-Vlog Series

Posted on October 4, 2016 by Brenton Dickieson

One of the trade-offs of my recent vacation and research trip to the U.K. was that I had to miss the first week of classes. In our “Inquiry Studies” class we were simply doing introductions, so I joined the class … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments