Tag Archives: J.R.R. Tolkien

Jacob R. Schreiner Thesis Theatre, “The Logos of Faith: Sub-Creation through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium” (free online event Wednesday, June 1st, 12noon Eastern)

Posted on May 31, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Following a successful event last week–a great conversation with Miriam Davidson on “nonviolence” in The Lord of the Rings–I wanted to send a quick update on the three Signum University Thesis Theatres on The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged J.L. Austin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Literary Theory, pacifism, research, Shakespeare, Signum University, Speech-Act Theory, subcreation, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, war | Leave a comment

Miriam Davidson Thesis Theatre, “The Sword Not for its Sharpness: Nonviolent countercurrents in Tolkien’s Epic of War” (free online event Thurs, May 26th, 3pm ET)

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

I wanted to send a quick update on the three Signum University Thesis Theatres on The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s Legendarium that I announced last week. Our Signum University master’s students have the opportunity to write a thesis … Continue reading →

3 Upcoming Signum University Thesis Theatres on The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s Legendarium

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

I’m pleased as the week closes to offer a rich set of opportunities to dive meaningfully into Tolkien’s imaginative worlds. There are three upcoming Signum University Thesis Theatres on The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien’s Legendarium (all times Eastern): … Continue reading →

Posted in Feature Friday, News & Links | Tagged J.L. Austin, J.R.R. Tolkien, Literary Theory, pacifism, research, Shakespeare, Signum University, Speech-Act Theory, subcreation, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, war | 2 Comments

CFP: “Gardeners of the Galaxies: How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One” by Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson (Academic Deadline Extended to May 30th)

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

I am about to talk about gardening while my own garden is suffering from busy-related neglect. Even my little seedlings, planted with plenty of time for our last frost day (usually about June 10th in Prince Edward Island) have not … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, CliFi, climate fiction, Dune, ecocriticism, ecology, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, Imaginary Worlds, J.R.R. Tolkien, Other Worlds, Science Fiction, Sorina Higgins, speculative fiction, Theology of Culture, Ursula K. Le Guin | 14 Comments

J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Secret Vice” and My Secret Love: Thoughts on Dimitra Fimi and Andrew Higgins’ Critical Edition of A Secret Vice: Tolkien on Invented Language (Throwback Thursday)

Posted on May 5, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

At A Pilgrim in Narnia, we have an occasional feature called “Throwback Thursday.” By raiding either my own blog-hoard or someone else’s, I find a blog post from the past and throw it back out into the digital world. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged A Secret Vice, Andrew Higgins, conlangs, Constructed Languages, David J. Peterson, Dimitra Fimi, George R.R. Martin, J.R.R. Tolkien, owen barfield, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, The Art of Language Invention, The Game of Thrones, The Lord of the Rings | 3 Comments

“Gardeners of the Galaxies” Discussion with Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson on Inkling Folk Fellowship (Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 4pm Eastern)

Posted on April 28, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

“Gardeners of the Galaxies? How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One”: A discussion with Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson on Inkling Folk Fellowship (Fri, Apr 29, 2022, 4pm Eastern) In many parts of the northern hemisphere, all … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflections | Tagged creation care, ecocriticism, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, J.R.R. Tolkien, Mythopoeia, Science Fiction, SF, Sorina Higgins, speculative fiction, The Inklings, theology and literature | 3 Comments

Which Image Triggered C. S. Lewis’ Enthusiasm for Wagner’s Ring Cycle? A Proposal by Norbert Feinendegen

Posted on April 20, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Since the first time I read C.S. Lewis’ peculiar and beautiful memoir, Surprised by Joy, I have been fascinated by Lewis’ numinous experience of joy that came with his encounter between a moment in Wagner’s Ring Cycle and one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Original Research, Reflections | Tagged Arthur Rackham, C.S. Lewis, friendship, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, J.R.R. Tolkien, Norbert Feinendegen, Norse Mythology, northernness, owen barfield, Richard Wagner, Ring des Nibelungen, Sigurd and Gudrún, Surprised by Joy, Tegner's Drapa, The Inklings, The Ring Cycle, Wagner | 11 Comments

CFP: Gardeners of the Galaxies: How Imaginary Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One by Drs. Sørina Higgins and Brenton Dickieson

Posted on February 24, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

Hello dear readers! I am super pleased to announce that I am co-editing an academic book with my long-time friend and scholar, Dr. Sørina Higgins (of The Oddest Inkling fame, with edited volumes like the Mythopoeic Award-nominated Charles Williams play, … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links, Original Research | Tagged C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, CliFi, climate fiction, Dune, ecocriticism, ecology, fantasy, Gardeners of the Galaxies, Imaginary Worlds, J.R.R. Tolkien, Other Worlds, Sørina Higgins, Science Fiction, speculative fiction, Theology of Culture, Ursula K. Le Guin | 15 Comments

Tolkien Prof Corey Olsen on the Rings of Power Trailer and How to Talk About the Worlds We Love

Posted on February 22, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

In my post on the title announcement to the new Middle-earth Prime series, The Rings of Power, I admitted to having a split mind and cautious hopefulness about the film serial. I wrote that: “my confidence is not high that … Continue reading →

Posted in News & Links | Tagged Amazon Prime, antisemitism, bigotry, C.S. Lewis, Corey Olsen, diversity, Dune, film adaptation, J.R.R. Tolkien, Peter Jackson, racism, Signum University, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, The Rings of Power | 19 Comments

CFP: TexMoot 2022: Starships, Stewards, and Storytellers (Mar 22nd 2022, Call for Papers)

Posted on February 15, 2022 by Brenton Dickieson

TexMoot 2022: Signum University’s Fourth Annual Texas Literature & Language Symposium 26 March 2022 at the Norris Conference Center 2525 W. Anderson Ln Austin, TX 78757 and online What is a “Moot”? The word “moot” refers to a meeting or … Continue reading →