Tamara sends along word about a Tolkien lecture at Harvard: While my program doesn’t allow for any “outside” classes, I just noticed that they offered an inaugural Tolkien course this spring, with the first lecture available on-line. Here’s the link below, but I may audit this one next year, if it is still around! Commencement is today, so I’m not sure how long this will be available, but I enjoyed two very interesting hours listening/watching! More..
ANTH E-164 Tolkien as Translator: Language, Culture, and Society in Middle-Earth (23228) – Marc Zender, PhD, Lecturer on Anthropology, Harvard University.
As the purported “translation” of ancient records from before the dawn of accepted history, J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings grapples with themes of language and identity rarely encountered in fantasy novels. In this course, students study the role of language in making the cultures and societies of Middle-Earth come alive, and are introduced to concepts from linguistic anthropology that shed light on Tolkien’s methods and purpose.
Gollum / SmeagolJan writes: Andy Serkis is scheduled to take part in the Academy’s symposium “Acting in the Digital Age” at Samuel Goldwyn Theatre. From the website: Revolutionary developments in digital technology are impacting every aspect of filmmaking, including the discipline of acting. Today’s actors are performing in ways their predecessors couldn’t have imagined.
Short Films and Feature Animation Branch governor Bill Kroyer will lead an evening focused on two Oscar-winning films – “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (2008) and “Avatar” (2009) – to demonstrate how innovations in performance-capture technology, digital doubles, digital makeup, photorealism and image manipulation are affecting actors. “Acting in the Digital Age” will feature a panel of cast and crew members from both films who will discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with these changing technologies. The program includes film clips and behind-the-scenes footage of the actors at work. More..
Michelle Lee from The Hair and Makeup Artist Network sends this in: I just wanted to let you know we are having a networking dinner with John Slowsky the pre-production art director from Lord of the Rings. Details are attached if you would like to post them to the site. More..
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Sideshow Collectibles is continuing their Fantacular 2010 celebration with a special St. Patrick’s Day giveaway. To enter all you have to do is send a St. Patrick’s Day card and you will automatically entered to win their popular Legolas Premium Format Figure. Follow the link to share your St. Patrick’s Day greetings today! [Send a Card] And if you didn’t know, Sideshow is hosting a day long chat with every single department at their website. If the chat’s end up like other ones, you’ll get some news on upcoming products and have great odds in winning free stuff! It doesn’t officially start until 9AM PT Today. [Sideshow Chat]
Kara Maloney writes: I just wanted to let you know that I will be teaching an online course on Tolkien and his medieval sources this summer entitled “Going Medieval on Tolkien: Tolkien’s Sources and Inspirations from Medieval English”. The course runs May 25th through June 25th, and will include a reading of “Lord of the Rings” as well as some of Tolkien’s medieval sources and various scholarship regarding the two. It’s an open enrollment online course through Binghamton University, one of the SUNY schools. A four credit class, it counts for both General Ed and Writing credit. Here is the course catalog blurb, as well as a pretty flyer for your website. Continue reading “Going Medieval on Tolkien at Binghamton University”
