News and Events

● Public Lecture by Janet Brennan Croft, University of Oklahoma
"Peter Jackson's Aragorn and the American Superhero Monomyth"
Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30 p.m. in University Honors Forum
(Student Health Center Building, Ground Floor, Room 21)
Even the most ardent fan of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies must admit, if they have any familiarity at all with J.R.R. Tolkien's original books, that Jackson made many changes to the characters Tolkien created. Whatever one's opinion of these changes, the question of why Jackson made them is an interesting one. Part of the answer may lie in the uniquely American re-visioning of Joseph Campbell's heroic "monomyth" described in John Shelton Lawrence and Robert Jewett's The Myth of the American Superhero, and its worldwide influence through exported American cultural products. In this talk, Croft will examine the character of Aragorn in particular and how this "American superhero" myth may have influenced Jackson's interpretation of the character. Download the flyer for this event here.

● February Hobbit Moot
Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the UHP Forum
(ground floor, Student Health Center, UNM campus)
This will be a workshop where we can talk about the art of doing Tolkien Studies and studying literature and popular culture in general. Come prepared to learn and share your experiences in this field of study.

● March Hobbit Moot
Wednesday, March 21 at 7:00 p.m. in the UHP Forum
(ground floor, Student Health Center, UNM campus)
A continuation of the previous meeting, focusing more on current Tolkien scholarship such as "Tolkien Studies: An Annual Scholarly Review." Readings will be emailed.

● Tolkien Reading Day
Monday, March 26 from 10:00 am-2:00 pm, UNM Duckpond
Mark your calendars for the mayhem to ensue as we sit by the duckpond reading aloud favorite passages from the works of J.R.R. Tolkien to all passersby in remembrance of the anniversary of the destruction of the One Ring. OK, OK ,so the REAL anniversary is on March 25, but since that falls on a Sunday this year, we are celebrating it on Monday instead. All are welcome to take part by reading aloud or just listening. We will also have baked goods and t-shirts for sale. For more information about International Tolkien Reading Day, visit the page at the Tolkien Society website. Also, ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATIONS DUE MARCH 26 (Tolkien Reading Day) by email to tolkien@unm.edu..

● Intellectual Hooliganism
Friday, April 6 (time TBA) in the UHP Forum
(ground floor, Student Health Center, UNM campus)
This is our annual sci-fi/fantasy UNM student colloquium. It is a great opportunity for UNM students to present their scholarly work on topics such as The Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, and Harry Potter. Start thinking about submitting a presentation proposal. ABSTRACTS FOR PRESENTATIONS DUE MARCH 26 (Tolkien Reading Day) by email to tolkien@unm.edu..

● April Hobbit Moot
Wednesday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the UHP Forum
(ground floor, Student Health Center, UNM campus)
Topic TBA

● May Hobbit Moot
It'll be a party! TBA

● T-Shirts for Sale
For $10 each, you can purchase your own lovely, cardinal red (a nice red, not fire engine red), T-shirt that features the Hobbit Society tree logo (look on the left of this page) in white. Come by Dr. Donovan's office in Room 20 of the Honors Center to get yours now before your size is gone!