Guillermo del Toro was born October 9, 1964 in Guadalajara Jalisco, Mexico. He developed an interest in filmmaking in his teens and, after dabbling in making his own short films, went on to win numerous awards and recognition for such films as Cronos (1993), Espinazo del diablo, El (2001) and Pan’s Labrynth (2006). On this occasion of his 44th birthday, Guillermo has embarked on what will certainly be yet another acclaimed project: writing and eventually directing The Hobbit and “F2.” So, in addition to wishing him a very ‘happy birthday,’ please join us in wishing him the very best of luck in his latest endeavors.

“Beyond Romanticism: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Practical Agrarian Romance”

Professor Dickerson will explore one element of Tolkien’s comprehensive ecological vision expressed in his Middle-earth legendarium: the agrarianism of the Shire, and its contrast in the industrialized agriculture of Sauron and Saruman. While Tolkien’s works might be dismissed as mere romanticism–idyllic fantasy with no implications to our world–the talk will defend a claim that the underlying ecology in these works is fundamentally practical (at many levels). Thursday, October 23, 2008 4-5:30 p.m in the Prucha Archives Reading Room, John P. Raynor, S.J., Library (3rd floor).
Continue reading “Matthew Dickerson presents “Beyond Romanticism” at Marquette University Oct 23″

The seminar will be held on Saturday 28th June 2008, at Parkstead House, Whitelands College, Roehampton University, London.

The first Tolkien Reading Day was March 25th, 2003. It was created by the Tolkien Society as a day to encourage the reading of Tolkien’s works, and it is hoped to have it integrated into school and library settings in addition to being celebrated by fans personally.

The Tolkien Society’s Tolkien Reading Day page