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Signum Symposia — Arts
Signum Symposia

Signum Symposia comprise a collection of conversations across a wide range of topics appealing to both fans and scholars of literature. Episodes include chats with members of Signum’s world class faculty, presentations by students in our Masters program and interviews with some of the leading lights in academic and popular circles. With a rich variety of topics and speakers, there is bound to be something here for everyone.

Latest Episodes:

Thesis Theater: Jay Moses, "Seedbed Of Darkness: M.R. James, Folk Horror, And 17th Century England" Nov 17, 2024

This recording from November 1, 2024.

Signum University presents Thesis Theater with Jay Moses on Saturday, November 1, 2024 at 5pm ET.

M.R. James was recognized and acclaimed for his short stories of the macabre written at the turn of the twentieth century. In the 1970’s the new genre of Folk Horror arose, basing many of its stories within the England countryside, and claiming M.R. James as a significant foundation and forerunner. While setting most of his stories in present day England, several of them are set within 17th Century England. This Thesis explores four of James’ stories with settings in 17th Century England: The Fenstanton Witch, The Ash Tree, Martin’s Close and The Rose Garden and attempts to discern what exactly drew James to this time period, but more importantly, what it was about this time period that lent itself to Folk Horror. It is the conclusion of this Thesis that the great instability of England, combining Puritan beliefs, fanatical authority, and brutal punishments, laid the seeds of paranoia and rural unease from which M.R. James and Folk Horror both created tales of terror.

About the Presenter:

Jay Moses is a pastor at Saint Mark Presbyterian Church in the DC area, teaching adjunct at the University of Maryland. His favorite memories leading to his studies at Signum are finding yellow-worn paperbacks of Ray Bradbury in his sister’s book shelf, watching the Hobbit with cheese popcorn made by his mother, and listening to the many ghost stories told by his father while camping. His wife is the best thing about him, and his children continue to wonder if he really reads his books.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Spring 2025 semester (term begins January 13th)! To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-programs/graduate/upcoming-courses/

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degree-programs/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Peter DeVault, "Illuminating the Metrical Grammar of Germanic Alliterative Poetry" Oct 14, 2024

This recording from September 28, 2024.

Signum University presents Thesis Theater with Peter DeVault on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 10am ET.

Modern metrical analysis of Germanic alliterative poetry (GAP) has invariably proceeded from edited texts in which the poem is represented visually as verses on a printed page or screen. Of course, that is not how these poems came down to us. The manuscript form of a GA poem is
typically indistinguishable from prose, the words (and abbreviations) inscribed margin to margin on parchment, with little or no indication of where one verse ends and another begins. This manuscript arrangement is a trove for learning how medieval poets and scribes assembled
and presented their materials. Remarkably, the abstract structure of a GAP poem can be recovered from manuscript “storage” by someone having no prior familiarity with the poem. Hitherto, to present the poem has been to lose the manuscript. I propose an alternative that illuminates on the one hand the continuity between manuscript and poetic text, and on the other, the versecraft of the poet as evidenced in the text.

The annotation scheme and processing method outlined in this thesis allow us to create a TEI/Menota compatible xml document based on a medieval germanic poem realized in a particular manuscript. This document can contain several overlapping layers of information: the layout of the words on the manuscript page along with their linguistic and morphological features and decomposition into syllables; the organization of those words into poetic lines and verses; and a projection of metrical features onto this abstract structure. While being itself a data source for further programmatic analytic and comparative work, this document can in turn be transformed into an interactive html representation showing any of these layers of information. In this presentation, you will see how these methods and tools work in the context of selections from five poetic manuscripts including portions of Beowulf and the Poetic Edda.

About the Presenter:

Peter DeVault hails from the upper Midwest of the United States, where he works at a healthcare software company leading a team developing applications for clinical genomics. Having discovered Signum University in 2019 while tracking down linguistic resources for Tolkien’s invented languages, he has since immersed himself in a world of medieval Germanic
languages and texts. When he isn’t grappling with philology and metrics, Peter composes and records music and talks with his grandchild about dragons.

Benjamin Bagby's "Beowulf: The Epic Performance": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WcIK_8f7oQ&t=0s

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Spring 2025 semester (term begins January 13th)! To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-programs/graduate/upcoming-courses/.

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degree-programs/.

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Julia Stowe, "Time and Eternity in 8-10th c. West Germanic Language and Literature" Sep 17, 2024

This recording from September 9, 2024.

Signum University presents Thesis Theater with Julia Stowe on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at 10am ET.

The concepts of time and eternity, and the words that are used to express them, have significant influence over a culture. This thesis examines how the understanding of these concepts changed in early Germanic culture with the introduction of Christianity, and how this shift is reflected in the languages and literature of the early Germanic world. Focusing on West Germanic languages and literature from the 8th to 10th centuries, it explores how a shift in a cultural conception of time instigates broader and deeper cultural transformations and linguistic change. The perception of time as cyclical and endless, yet enduringly doomed, as can be glimpsed in pre- Christian Germanic cultures, is contrasted with the conceptualization of time as a finite creation and eternity as an existence wholly outside of time’s boundaries, the view introduced to early medieval Germania through early Christian writings. By considering how an understanding of time and eternity affects a culture and by analyzing texts from this era, we can examine how the introduction of Christian theological and philosophical thought surrounding these concepts influenced the greater culture, and how that influence is reflected in the language and literature.

About the Presenter:

Julia Stowe began studying with Signum University in 2020 with plans to complete a graduate certificate. After the first course, however, a general interest in medieval literature and Germanic philology had turned to passion that has continued to grow in the past few years of working towards an MA. Outside of academic interests, she is an herbalist, graphic designer, and avid gardener, and is delighted at the prospect of staying connected with the Signum community in the future through auditing and SPACE courses.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degree-programs/.

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Robert Black, "Beowulf as a Christian Critique of Germanic Heroism" Aug 16, 2024

This recording from August 10, 2024.

Signum University presents Thesis Theater with Robert Black on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at 4pm ET.

This paper proposes to compare once again the heroes Beowulf and Böðvarr Bjarki, using linguistics and critiques of the heroes to build on the traditional approaches of comparison through folktale, etymological, and literary analysis to examine the degree to which Beowulf may be considered a hero or the praised object of censure. After summarizing their mode of Germanic Heroism and lightly comparing the heroes’ stories and reviewing the current state of scholarship on the Bear’s Son Tale as applied to these analogues and the role of the Dragon in Beowulf, attention is given to the use and significance of the term aglæca in Beowulf, including its application to the eponymous hero. Further consideration is given to Beowulf’s fate as a Christianised Germanic Hero, and it is argued that the poet subtly critiques Beowulf for the shortcomings endemic to his particular idiom of heroism, in contrast with absence of critique of Böðvarr. This evidence and reasoning provide additional support for the argument that Beowulf was composed in an Anglo-Latin and thus Christianised England, and allow for fresh examination of the implications thereof.

About the Presenter:

Robert Black earned a Bachelor of Arts in English at Austin College and has taught English Language & Literature at various levels for the past dozen years. When he has free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, a pint of bitter, reading, whistling, watching & discussing movies & shows, and more reading. But what is best in his life is raising three lovely children with his wonderful wife in their native Texas.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Fall 2024 semester (term begins August 26th)! To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Celesta Clegg, "Original Sin: A Portrait of the Fall Through Germanic Texts” Jul 22, 2024

This recording from July 13, 2024.

Signum University presents Thesis Theater with Celesta Clegg on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at 5pm ET.

Germanic reworkings of Genesis material present a glimpse into the Christian doctrine and societal understandings of the medieval culture in which the texts were composed. This thesis serves as an analysis and synthesis of the topic of original sin as found in a selection of prominent Germanic Genesis-related texts. Primary sources from the early post-conversion period through the late medieval period will be analyzed comparatively to determine common themes across analogues, explore original material unique to specific reworkings of the text, and postulate societal influence and reception of these works within the culture of the time.

About the Presenter:

Celesta Clegg is a graduate of West Liberty University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. She has worked in the music field for the better part of a decade working with choirs, marching bands, and private lesson students. In her free time she enjoys reading Tolkien, writing in Tengwar, painting, hiking, and playing with her dog, Bailey. She and her husband are expecting their first child together this month.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Fall 2024 semester (term begins August 26th)! To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Shannon Choudhari, "Notion Club Papers and Tolkien’s Vision of Creative Mysticism" May 14, 2024

This recording from May 10, 2024.

Signum University Graduate School presents Thesis Theater with Shannon Choudhari on Tuesday, May 10, 2024 at 5pm ET.

“I wonder what you’ve been up to?”: The Notion Club Papers and Tolkien’s Vision of Creative Mysticism

Since it’s publication in 1992, Tolkien’s unfinished time-travel story The Notion Club Papers has received relatively infrequent critical attention for its depiction of time and time-travel, as well as for its representation of Tolkien’s Númenor legend. This thesis seeks to counter the dominant view – that the tale’s intricate plot, narrative complexity, and unfinished state overshadow the “real” story of Númenor, resulting in a work that is both difficult and ultimately unsatisfying. Beginning with a reconsideration of the story as written (rather than as it might have been), this study explores how narrative and stylistic strategies work together to convey a distinctive portrait of the sub-creative artist that is defined by the very techniques that make the story itself uniquely effective. It begins with a consideration of the tale’s climax and thematic focus, arguing for the threshold of creative mystic experience, rather than Númenor, as the crux of the story. Further examining the unique meeting of structure and theme, the study then moves into an analysis of narrative form, demonstrating how the metafictional interface and complex embedding of narrative layers engage in a carefully balanced rhetoric of authentication, while also working to simultaneously destabilize assumptions about reality. Further entanglement of the Papers and its vision with the Primary World through elements of metacommentary and biographical allegory are seen to break through narrative boundaries, resulting in a unique vehicle that is perhaps best suited to deliver Tolkien’s radical vision of creative mysticism – a vision that is consistent, if somewhat obscured, within his larger body of fictional and personal writings. The complexity of these features which others have perceived as failings are here reinterpreted as the “essentials” of the tale, themselves revelatory of a sweeping assertion of visionary power and overlapping realities, where personalities are subsumed and the Primary World itself transformed.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Trevor Brierly, "Tolkien's Vision of Faërie in 'Smith of Wooton Major'" May 14, 2024

This recording from May 7, 2024.

Signum University Graduate School presents Thesis Theater with Trevor Brierly on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 at 2pm ET, on the subject of Tolkien's "Vision of Faërie" in "Smith of Wootton Major."

Tolkien's story "Smith of Wootton Major", written in 1965, and an accompanying essay written at the same time, provide a rich understanding of Tolkien's "Vision of Faërie" that goes significantly beyond earlier critical works such "On Fairy-stories" and "Mythopoeia". A close reading and analysis approach to "Smith" and the essay indicate that Tolkien saw Faërie as necessary, universal, beneficent and transformative to humanity. In order to fully appreciate what "Smith" has to say about Faërie, it must be understood that "Smith" is neither an allegory nor primarily autobiographical and should be seen as a "fairy-story", a story about a human journeying in the Faërie realm. The essay adds to our understanding of Faërie as it tells a parallel story concerning Faërie intervening in Wootton Major, to restore contact with the enchantment of Faërie that is being lost. "Smith" and the essay together are important for understanding Tolkien's increasingly sophisticated and elevated view of Faërie, which he claimed was "as necessary for the health and complete functioning of the Human as is sunlight for physical life."

About the Presenter:
N. Trevor Brierly is a software engineer with more than 25 years of experience in the industry. He has a background in literature with an MLIS from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in English from George Mason University. His research interests include worldbuilding in speculative fiction, Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Le Guin, Shakespeare, and the Renaissance. He has presented working papers on “Lord of the Rings”, “Dune”, “King Lear”, worldbuilding, and other topics. He has published an essay “Worldbuilding Design Patterns in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien” in “Sub-creating Arda” (Walking Tree Publishers, 2019) and is co-editor of “Discovering Dune” from McFarland Books (2022). He lives in Northern Virginia and enjoys books, jazz, tea and cats.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Summer 2024 semester until May 10th! To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Timothy Francis, "Administrative Art as Genre in Kafka, Tooker, and Ravn" Apr 12, 2024

This recording from April 11, 2024.

Signum MA student Timothy Francis will present his thesis “Administrative Art as Genre in Kafka, Tooker, and Ravn” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Timothy’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Gabriel Schenk.

Abstract
This thesis explores bureaucracy through the works of three artists working in different media: prose, visual art, and bureaucracy itself as a medium. Rooted in an understanding of what constitutes bureaucracy and administration and previous works on the subject, it seeks to explore what might constitute bureaucratic art and what the aims of such an art might be. Building upon existing literature and prior artistic explorations of bureaucracy and their analyses, this thesis aims to understand bureaucratic art and unravel its significance and potential impacts. The works are considered individually and collectively, offering multifaceted insights from different perspectives. By navigating the labyrinth of bureaucratic structures and creative interpretation, this thesis endeavors to shed light on the intersections between bureaucracy and artistry, ultimately paving the way for a deeper appreciation and comprehension of administrative or bureaucratic art.

About the Presenter
Timothy Francis is a recovering bureaucrat, former public accountant in tax law, and sometimes musician who applies his collaborative and creative lenses outside of the public sector and has been Composer-in-Residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts developing and exploring creative collaborative frameworks for performers, lyricists, and composers. His compositions have been performed worldwide including at the Bregenzer Festspiele by the Vienna Symphony, Carnegie Hall by the New York Pops and the Berlin Film Festival. At Signum University, as a Language and Literature Master’s student, his focus has been on discovering works old and new, and exploring various critical lenses, approaches, and their applications. Highlights include the opportunity to read ancient texts in their original language, and focus on areas of interest including semiotics, translation, and adaptation.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Summer 2024 semester! Classes begin Monday, April 29th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Duane Watson, "Dominate or Preserve: Magic as a Means of Production in Middle-earth" Apr 12, 2024

This recording from April 5, 2024.

Abstract
J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth has long been praised for its sense of depth, but Tolkien’s creation has often been criticized, especially by Marxist critics, for its lack in depicting economic realities and for providing a reactionary fantasy to soothe bourgeois anxieties about a changing world. However, the traditional bourgeois-proletarian dichotomy, in particular when mapped onto the Hobbits and the Orcs of Middle-earth, fails to fully engage with Tolkien’s fantasy world. Building off the concept of sub-creation established by Tolkien in his essay “On Fairy-Stories” and Gergely Nagy’s examination of magic as inherent power in Middle-earth, this paper argues that magic rather than capital functions as a means of production in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Just as our relationships to capital in the real world shape our ideologies, so the peoples of Middle-earth are shaped by their relationship to magic, from the highest Elves to the most ordinary of Hobbits. This focus on magic shows how Tolkien’s works present a compelling picture of a world where relationships to power are complicated and change is inevitable.

About the Presenter
Duane Watson is an instructor at Llano High School in Llano, Texas, teaching English Composition, Economics, Government, and Audio/Visual Art and Technology. He received a B.S. in History from Howard Payne University (Brownwood, TX), an M.A. in English from National University (La Jolla, California), and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University – Nebraska. He resides in the Texas Hill Country with his wife, Jen, and their four cats.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Summer 2024 semester! Classes begin Monday, April 29th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Laurel Stevens, "An Awareness of Debts: Dark Academia and its Source-Texts" Mar 23, 2024

This recording from March 22, 2024.

Abstract
Dark Academia (DA), as a genre, is an offshoot of academic fiction that has become prominent over the last decade. After defining DA and exploring its roots, I dive into Intertextuality to ask why modern authors have chosen DA as their genre of choice as they reimagine elements of classic works. The works I chose to analyze are The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005), which exists in connection with Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1897); Conversion by Katherine Howe (2014), which exists in connection with The Crucible by Arthur Miller (1953); Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (2020), which exists in connection with The Story of Mary MacLane, alternatively titled I Await the Devil’s Coming by Mary MacLane (1902); and The Society for Soulless Girls by Laura Steven (2022), which exists in connection with Robert Louis Stevenson’s Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886). Authors give myths breaths of new life century after century, and works that have asked pointed questions of society and their readers often stay around long enough for new, younger readers to ask those same questions of their own changing societal contexts by building on the existing classical works. DA gives a structured power setting that can be treated as a sandbox of sorts for enquiring minds on how new people and places have altered responses to questions that have been asked again and again in literature.

About the Presenter
Laurel M. Stevens completed her undergraduate in English at Westminster College where she first delved into fantasy studies with Tolkien. Her masters coursework at Signum focused on Imaginative Literature and has allowed her to explore fantasy at greater depths and introduced her to areas of studies such as adaptation and Dark Academia. She reads and reviews heavily in modern fantasy and science fiction, yet remains interested in a wide range of literature.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Summer 2024 semester! Classes begin Monday, April 29th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

State of the University Address, Fall 2023 Dec 11, 2023

This recording is from Signum University Annual Fundraising Webathon, December 9, 2023. If you want to watch the recordings of the full event, check the 2023 Fundraising campaign playlist here. • Signum University Annual Fundraising ...

This year's campaign announcement • Signum University's Fall Fundraising ...
Support Signum University https://signumuniversity.org/support/

More about Signum University, visit
https://signumuniversity.org/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Kira Tregoning, "The Semantic and Narrative Meaning in Homeric Epithets" Oct 08, 2023

This recording from October 6, 2023.

Signum MA student Kira Tregoning will present her thesis “More Complicated Than They Seem: The Semantic and Contextual Meaning of Homeric Epithets” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Kira’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Gabriel Schenk.

The thesis presentation will be pre-recorded and played in the session, followed by a live Q&A with Kira Tregoning.

Abstract
Milman Parry and subsequent scholars since the late 1920s have argued that Homeric noun-epithet formulas are divorced from the context of the sentence and scene. Epithets — those phrases such as “swift-footed Achilles” or “gray-eyed Athena” — have often been shoehorned for much of the last century into a strict interpretation of metrical convenience and mnemonic device. Such a rigid approach unnecessarily limits readings of Homer today. This study analyzes Homeric epithets in the Iliad and Odyssey through a combined linguistic, literary, and digital humanities approach. Three significant characters are examined in detail — Odysseus, Athena, and Helen — to determine how epithets affect interpretations of character, motivations, and actions in a scene. Specific qualities as conveyed by epithets are linked to a character in spite of the framing story. Epithets act as focalization, pushing and pulling characters to and from the foreground as needed, and the lack of an epithet for an important character is as noteworthy as the presence of one. Translators may play with the repetition of epithets to emphasize various connotations according to the context. Epithets have semantic and narrative value and, while they do have a mechanical value, are more necessary to the poems than formulaic theories suggest. This thesis argues that epithets are too complex for any single theory to encompass and should instead be considered with interdisciplinary approaches to include context, semantics, and function. Epithets can be formulaic and still express essential qualities of character, reflect the narrative action, and connect to the immediate context as needed by the poet.

About the Presenter
Kira Tregoning (she/her) is a lifelong fan of mythology, language, and fantasy. Greek and Roman mythology, and the Robert Fitzgerald translation of the Odyssey, were the gateway to studying Classics in undergrad. Kira holds a B.A. in Classics and a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Maryland, College Park. She now works as a freelance editor and proofreader and is considering options for further study. In her spare time, she writes fantasy novels, plays video games with her two cat sidekicks, and spends time with her husband and family.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

To view Kira's Epithets Database, please visit: www.epithetsdatabase.com

Registration is open for the Spring 2024 semester! Classes begin Monday, January 8th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Gina Petrone, "'Let Me In!' Vampirism in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights" Aug 03, 2023

This recording from August 1st, 2023.

Signum MA student Gina Petrone will present her thesis “‘Let Me In!’ Vampirism in Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Gina’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown.

Abstract

In Emily Brontë’s novel Wuthering Heights, scholars have studied the gothic elements of the story, but only in recent years has the idea of vampirism emerged. Cathy, a strong-willed and spirited girl, wants nothing more than to live her life at Wuthering Heights with her soulmate, Heathcliff. However, it is impossible for the two to be together in Victorian society. Cathy is from a respectable family, and Heathcliff is treated as no better than a servant after the death of Cathy’s father. Both monstrous in their own rights, Cathy and Heathcliff undergo transformations in order to become vampiric. I explore the transformation process of both characters and argue the possibility of traditional vampirism. I also argue the vampiric qualities of both characters due to their souls being halved by Cathy’s death. As such, this research connects Brontë’s own criticism of Victorian society to the meaning behind her characters in Wuthering Heights.

About the Presenter

Gina Petrone (she/her) is an English teacher for both middle and high school students. She has been an educator for the past thirteen years, and this will conclude her second Master’s degree. She recently moved to upstate New York with her fiancé and four cats.

About Signum Thesis Theaters

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Patrick Lyon, "The Familiar and the Strange in the Old English Rhyming Poem" Aug 03, 2023

This recording from July 30, 2023.

Signum MA student Patrick Lyon will present his thesis “Merry Old Englyn: The Familiar and the Strange in The Old English Rhyming Poem” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Patrick’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson.

Abstract

The Old English Rhyming Poem is one of the stranger and more overlooked entries in the lexicon of OE poetry, often regarded as interesting but flawed and incoherent due to its intensive pursuit of rhyme. As the poem is both unique and highly allusive, critical analyses have focused on the potential inspirations for (and origins of) the poem, and have attempted to make sense of the work’s convoluted grammar and syntax. This thesis examines three related questions concerning the poem’s origin, translation, and interpretation, and in conversation with critical analyses and previous editions of the poem presents a new argument for the inspiration of the poem coming from Welsh poetry. This thesis also makes the case that treating the poem as a riddle in addition to an elegy can make greater sense of some of the passages that earlier critics have found most vexing in the past.

About the Presenter

Patrick Lyon is a graduate of the Program of Liberal Studies at the University of Notre Dame and has presented on topics of Tolkien Studies, Homeric epics, and Black Speech at various Mythmoots; he also writes freelance Movie and TV Features for collider.com. In his spare time he enjoys gardening, Beowulf, juggling, Irish music, more Beowulf, playing the violin, a pipe full of Old Toby, a spot of the Old Winyards, and tilting at windmills of various sizes as he whiffles through the tulgy wood of academia. He enjoys all the comforts of a hobbity home with his lovely wife and three rambunctious children.

About Signum Thesis Theaters

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

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Thesis Theater: Christoph Schabert, "Magus Saga Jarls: A Digital Edition" Aug 03, 2023

This recording from July 29, 2023.

Signum MA student Christoph Schabert will present his thesis “Mágus saga jarls: A Digital Edition” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Christoph’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson.

Abstract

An Old Norse-Icelandic genre that has long been relegated to the background of scholarly studies is the genre of riddarasögur. With the largest amount of surviving manuscripts, this genre was very popular among audiences of medieval Norse sagas. With 89 different manuscripts, Mágus saga jarls has the most attested witnesses of all riddarasögur. The saga exists in two recessions: a younger and an older one. The earliest surviving manuscript of the younger and longer recension is the subject of this edition. It is known under the shelfmark AM 567 XVII ß 4to and was written between c. 1390 and 1410. This version of the saga has been rendered into a three-layer transcription – facsimile, diplomatic, normalized – and is fully compliant with version 3 of Medieval Nordic Text Archive (Menota) standards.

About the Presenter

Christoph Schabert is a development operations engineer currently living and working in Germany. Growing up he loved reading fantasy and was always intrigued with old languages, which only deepened during his studies of Old Norse with Signum. His combination of a deep interest in language and a technical background made him a prime candidate to do a digital edition.

About Signum Thesis Theaters

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

Registration is open for the Fall 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, August 28th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p....

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/.

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr....

Support Signum Symposia

Summer Courses 2023 Apr 28, 2023

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Summer Term (May 1 – July 30) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience.

The Summer 2023 Courses:

Please note: Unfortunately, following the recording of this Signum Symposia event, we have decided to postpone "Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft" until the Fall 2023 semester. "Tolkien Illustrated," "The Inklings and King Arthur," and "Introduction to Old Norse" are still open for registration. Thank you.

Tolkien Illustrated: Picturing the Legendarium – This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history of Tolkien illustration and its visual, contextual, and critical analyses.

Literary Copernicus: The Cosmic Fiction of H.P. Lovecraft – This course explores the work of H.P. Lovecraft and his impact on literature and popular culture. Students will study the foundations of Lovecraft’s writing, the meaning behind his works, along with his cosmic vision and legacy.

The Inklings and King Arthur – This course explores how J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and other Inklings authors interpreted the Arthurian legends in their work.

Introduction to Old Norse – The first half of this course provides a focus on Old Icelandic grammar, and the second half allows students to begin reading from a selection of Old Icelandic prose and poetic texts.

To view our course offerings for Summer 2023, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p...

To learn more about Signum University: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

For more upcoming news and Signum events: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and...

Want to learn more about Signum's educational offerings? Start here: https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr...

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Thesis Theater: Jennifer Ewing, “The Promises to the Overcomer” Apr 12, 2023

Thesis Theater: Jennifer Ewing, “The Promises to the Overcomer”

This recording from April 3rd, 2023.

Signum MA student Jennifer Ewing will present her thesis “The Promises to the Overcomer: The Gifts and Rewards Given to the Fellowship in The Lord of the Rings” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jennifer’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Michael Corso.

Abstract
J. R. R. Tolkien’s devout Catholicism and Biblical knowledge, through personal study and professional translation and commentary on medieval works, is well known. This Catholic and biblical ‘leaf-mould’ finds its way into the gifts and rewards which were given to the Fellowship in completion of their quest in The Lord of the Rings (Letters 409). This thesis presents evidence that the gifts or rewards articulated as promises to the overcomer in the book of Revelation seem to correspond in theme and value to a gift or a reward in The Lord of the Rings and include: the tree of life (Rev. 2.7), no second death (Rev. 2.11), manna, a white stone, and a new name (Rev. 2.17), rule of the nations, the morning star (Rev. 2.26, 28), white raiment (Rev. 3.5), to be a secure as a pillar in the temple of My God (Rev. 3.12), and to sit with Jesus on his throne (Rev. 3.21). In addition to the religious symbolism, there is a cursory exploration of the stewardship aspects of the gifts and rewards. Without prudent use of these gifts (or rewards), the War of the Ring would have been lost and quest would have surely failed.

About the Presenter
Jennifer Ewing read the Bass & Rankin illustrated edition of The Hobbit when she was ten years old. Despite this auspicious start, fourteen years passed before she read The Lord of the Rings. Some say that entering a course of study with an aim in mind brings a certain depth to that subject. Jennifer has known for the past twenty years that she wanted to write a thesis on Tolkien and Revelation 2-3. She attended seminary (where she is the library director), taking courses with that object in mind, and after graduation she waited two whole months before enrolling at Signum.

About Signum Thesis Theaters
Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

Registration is open for the Summer 2023 semester! Classes begin Monday, May 1st. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/non-degr...

Support Signum Symposia

Spring Courses 2023 Dec 03, 2022

This recording from December 1, 2022.

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Spring Term (January 9 – April 2) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience.

Your host, Professor Sparrow Alden, will introduce you to some of our amazing Spring Term professors: Sara Brown, Gabriel Schenk, Liam Daley, and Nelson Goering.

The Spring 2023 Courses:

Race, Gender, and the Other in Tolkien’s Middle-earth – This course explores the issues of race, sexuality, gender, and Othering in the mythological legendarium of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Gothic Tradition – This course will investigate the fascinating and subversive Gothic imagination, identify the historical conditions that have inspired it, and consider how it has developed across time and place and medium.

Chaucer I: Visions of Love – This class is the first semester in a two-part survey of Chaucer’s major works, looking at his early dream vision poems and his greatest completed work: Troilus and Criseyde.

Introduction to Germanic Philology II – This class provides an introduction to Germanic comparative philology in a broad sense. Students are not expected to have prior familiarity with any language other than modern English.

To view our course offerings for Spring 2023, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p...

Gift the joy of learning. Our Anytime Audit Holiday Special runs from now until December 31st. To view a full list of eligible courses and register for a certificate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOqBiJ7akJl37Oo5RPfGKn_rBA_LR0SxtZXoBLNyW_G8fqMA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0

To learn more about Signum University: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

For more upcoming news and Signum events: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and...

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State of the University Address, Fall 2022 Nov 22, 2022

This is Part 1 of the separate recordings from The 2022 Fall Fundraising Campaign Finale, recorded on November 19, 2022.

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New programs
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Thesis Theater: Nadia Schafer, "One Strange (s)Elf:...the Radical Hope of Legolas Greenleaf" Sep 15, 2022

This recording from September 5, 2022.

Signum MA student Nadia Schafer will present her thesis “One Strange (s) Elf: Deep Ecology, Decolonization and the Radical Hope of Legolas Greenleaf ” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Nadia’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown.

Abstract:

While living through a national reckoning, a global pandemic, and a worsening climate change crisis, what The Lord of the Rings can offer to those living on Turtle Island in the 2020s? This thesis argues that the text offers its reader radical hope through the ecocritical voice through the character Legolas Greenleaf. Strongly influenced by the writings of Joanna Macy, Donna Haraway, and Robin Wall Kimmerer, “One Strange (s)Elf” explores the narrative of Legolas’ role in the process of decolonization and restoration in Middle-earth. Using a postcolonial analysis paired with Deep Ecology, this thesis establishes an Indigenous reading of the Silvan Elves. Building of this reading, it further demonstrates the power of making Oddkin as an act of decolonization, explores the elements of the Queer Gothic in the depiction of Fangorn’s Huorns, and acknowledges the power of shared grief. Finally, this work demonstrates how Tolkien suggests to his audience an alternative to despair by offering the choice to stray.

About the Presenter:

Nadia Schafer (she/her) is a Social Services Worker, Certified Human Resources Professional, and speculative writer living on the Haldimand Tract in Southwestern Ontario. Her career as a jack-of-all-trades has included everything from non-profit consulting to teaching preschool. You can find her promoting her creative work as Nadia Steven Rysing on Twitter @a_tendency (https://twitter.com/a_tendency).

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Support Signum Symposia

Fall Courses 2022 Sep 02, 2022

This recording from August 25, 2022.

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Fall Term (August 29 – November 20) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience.

Your host, Dr. Gabriel Schenk, will introduce you to our amazing Fall Term professors: Dr. Amy H. Sturgis, Dr. Faith Acker, Dr. Nelson Goering, Dr. Larry Swain, and Dr. Liam Daley

The Spring 2022 Courses:

Dark Academia – Dark Academia explores this thriving genre which combines the Gothic, schooldays stories, mystery, and speculative fiction.

Foundations in Critical Reading and Research – This core course introduces students to current practices and conventions of graduate scholarship in Language and Literature, core literary theories, and foundational Humanities skills.

Beowulf Through Tolkien – This course examines Tolkien and Beowulf together to provide insight into both the classic Old English epic and Tolkien’s modern fantasy works.

Shakespeare and the Middle Ages – The course examines Shakespeare’s Comedies in the context of their medieval literary sources, his Histories in light of Tudor views of the recent medieval past, and his Tragedies in the context of medieval beliefs and cosmologies.

Introduction to Germanic Philology I – This class offers a survey of the older Germanic languages (especially Gothic, Old Norse, and Old English), and the literatures written in those languages.

To view our course offerings for Fall 2022, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/degree-p...

To learn more about Signum Univesity, visit: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

For more upcoming events and Signum news: https://signumuniversity.org/news-and...

Don't forget to check out more videos on this channel for past events and our free, fun, and educational weekly activities.

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Thesis Theater: Jacob R. Schreiner, "Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium" Jun 04, 2022

Thesis Theater: Jacob R. Schreiner, "Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium"

This recording from June 1, 2022.

Signum MA student Jacob R. Schreiner will present his thesis “The Logos of Faith: Sub-creation Through Speech-Acts in Tolkien’s Legendarium” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Jacob’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Brenton Dickieson.

Abstract:

J.R.R. Tolkien’s theory of sub-creation has long been studied within his legendarium, and how humanity, being created by God, has the desire to imitate the Creator through sub-creation. However, what is the connection between God’s command for the universe to Be and humanity’s ability to sub-create? This thesis examines logos as “word” and “reason” in creation and its relationship to sub-creation through the investigative lens of speech-act theory. According to J.L. Austin and other speech-act theorists, when one speaks, it is not merely to say words, but by the act of speech, one performs, which produces consequential effects by the speaker. In The Silmarillion, Ilúvatar’s original speech-act brought all of creation into being and allowed the Ainur to sub-create within Arda according to the logical reason and design of the universe and by the word, “Eä!” The same is true in Middle-earth. Frodo and Sam harness the power of the logos in their speech-acts, and in prayer as a speech-act, by having faith, they can sub-create through language and bring about physical changes within their world.

About the Presenter:

Jacob R. Schreiner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Sam Houston State University. His first conference presentation was at TexMoot in 2019 where he presented his paper “God of War and the Norse Oral Storyteller,” and later that year presented at Mythmoot VI on “’What a worm’s made for!’: The Cure to Conquering Dragons in C.S. Lewis’ Pilgrim’s Regress and Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader.’” At Mythmoot VII, Jacob presented his paper, “A Light for Hobbit Feet: Moral Choices that Defy Darkness in Children’s Fantasy.” His research interests include fantasy, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, speech-act theory, and Germanic philology. Jacob currently runs a blog called The Tolkienian where he analyzes the works of Tolkien, fantasy, and science fiction.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

To view Jacob's blog, The Tolkienian: https://thetolkienian.wordpress.com/

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Miriam Davidson, "Nonviolent Countercurrents in Tolkien's Epic of War" May 31, 2022

Thesis Theater: Miriam Davidson, "Nonviolent Countercurrents in Tolkien's Epic of War"

This recording from May 26, 2022.

Signum MA student Miriam Davidson will present her thesis “The Sword Not for its Sharpness: Nonviolent Countercurrents in Tolkien’s Epic of War” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Miriam’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Brenton Dickieson.

Abstract:

The Lord of the Rings highlights Tolkien’s use of characters and narrative to accentuate the courage and honor earned by those who sacrifice themselves in combat. His plot demands, and often justifies, violent action. The people of Middle-earth will not stand by as Sauron works to enslave and kill the free folk. Still, there is a clear and consistent emphasis on the cost and devastation these violent engagements bring. Tolkien’s narrative strongly warns against the lust for power and the will to dominate others while elevating the importance of grace, forgiveness, and not striking without the gravest of need. War victors should be magnanimous, offering reconciliation and forgiveness to the defeated rather than destruction, slavery, or crippling reparations. Discovering the tensions at play between the honor of war and its human devastation, this thesis explores the countercurrents of nonviolence in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. These countercurrents ultimately demonstrate that Tolkien’s representation of war and nonviolence is impacted by his literary mode, educational background, personal beliefs, and exposure to war.

About the Presenter:

Miriam Davidson has been practicing as a forensic psychiatric nurse practitioner in the Department of Corrections for the past 15 years. She has a deep-rooted love for fantasy literature and pursued a MA degree to expand and strengthen her reading and writing skills. With the help of her husband and dogs, she spends her free time restoring a 200-year-old lighthouse in Downeast, Maine.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Emily Austin, "The Road Gives Ever On: the Road Motif in Lord of the Rings" May 22, 2022

Thesis Theater: Emily Austin, "The Road Gives Ever On: the Road Motif in Lord of the Rings"

This recording from May 21, 2022.

Signum MA student Emily Austin will present her thesis “The Road Gives Ever On: Following the Road Motif in The Lord of the Rings ” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Emily’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown.

Abstract:

The Lord of the Rings makes prominent use of “The Road” as a multifaceted symbolic image, but roads also play a more subtly powerful role in the text as a tool of narrative description. Tolkien’s stylistic treatment of roads and paths builds on his longstanding interest in the concept, visible in many earlier writings. In The Lord of the Rings, attention to the characters’ roads as they journey is a recurring motif that becomes particularly central for Frodo and Sam on the way to Mount Doom. This paper uses close reading and digital text analysis to identify four principal ways this narrative attention to roads can manifest, and examines how they undergird and enrich the concept’s thematic significance.

About the Presenter:

From an early age, Emily Austin has loved both reading and the visual arts, and pursued ways to combine these interests. Her favorite authors, particularly J.R.R. Tolkien and Jane Austen, shaped both her literary tastes and her artistic imagination, and they continue to provide both academic interest and inspiration for art projects. Born and raised on Oahu, Hawaii, Emily now lives in Indiana with her husband Ryan and runs a business creating art, illustration, and graphic design. Besides reading and painting, Emily also loves travel, photography, and sewing.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theater: Taylor Johnson Guinan, "Ventures into the Land of the Dead in Children's Literature” May 13, 2022

Thesis Theater: Taylor Johnson Guinan, "Ventures into the Land of the Dead in Children's Literature”

This recording from May 7, 2022.

Signum MA student Taylor Johnson Guinan will present her thesis “Only in Dying Life: Ventures into the Land of the Dead in Children’s Fantasy Literature” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Taylor’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown.

Abstract:

Modern children’s fantasy authors often depict the land of the dead as a dark and uninviting stage of a multi-stage death. How and why are these lands commonly depicted? Are there any key commonalities or divergences in the depiction of these lands of death? What is the effect of their depiction? This thesis examines children’s fantasy novels published in the last 30 years that contain a significant depiction of the land of the dead to determine what modern children’s fantasy authors are doing specifically, which may differ from previously published works. While the land of the dead is normally separated from life, dark, uninviting, and dangerous, the living’s journey through the land of the dead results in a greater appreciation for life, or reveals that the land of the dead is only a temporary transition stage to something greater, such as rebirth into life or an undescribed beyond. This revelatory experience replaces fear with peace and hope when death comes.

About the Presenter:

Taylor Johnson Guinan holds a Bachelor of the Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English from Arizona State University. In their honors program, she wrote her senior thesis on the benefits of using Science Fiction and Fantasy literature in the classroom accompanied by an implementable curriculum all titled “The Origins of Science Fiction and Fantasy in British Literature”. In 2015, she published a review of Shadow of the Wolf by Tim Hall in the Journal of Adult and Adolescent Literature, and at the 2021 Mythmoot she presented the paper “The Dystopian Looking Glass: Propaganda in Harry Potter and the Hunger Games.”

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Summer 2022 registration! The semester begins on May 2nd. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

Support Signum Symposia

Thesis Theatre: Phil Knight, “Drauma-Jóns Saga: A Digital Edition and Translation” Apr 23, 2022

This recording from April 15th, 2022.

Signum MA student Phil Knight will present his thesis “Drauma-Jóns Saga: A Digital Edition and Translation” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theatre. The discussion will be facilitated by Phil’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Paul Peterson.

Abstract:

Though once long neglected and even disparaged by academia, the Old Norse-Icelandic genre of chivalric sagas or riddarasögur were, to judge by the number of surviving manuscripts containing these stories, clearly extremely popular with their Late Medieval Age audiences. Drauma-Jóns saga, itself preserved in over fifty manuscripts dating from the mid to late fourteenth century through to the nineteenth, was no exception. This study presents a digital edition and English translation of Drauma-Jóns saga (The Story of Dream-Jón) based on the AM 657 4° manuscript housed at the Den Arnamagnæanske Samling repository in Copenhagen, Denmark.

About the Presenter:

Phil Knight is from Wolverhampton in the UK. He has been studying for an MA with Signum University since 2017 with a special focus on Germanic Philology. Prior to this he obtained a BA (Hons) in Classical Studies with The Open University. His academic interests include studying and learning languages (both ancient and modern), Old Norse-Icelandic literature, history (especially medieval), mythology and folklore. In his spare time he enjoys reading (especially horror and the occult, fantasy and sci-fi), film, TV and theatre, listening to music, and following the fortunes of his beloved football team, West Brom.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Summer 2022 registration! The semester begins on May 2nd. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

Support Signum Symposia

Summer Courses 2022 Apr 23, 2022

This recording from April 22, 2022.

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Summer Term (May 2 – July 31) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience.

The Summer 2022 Courses:

Digital Text – This course is an introduction to developing and working with texts electronically, particularly literary and historical language texts.

Germanic Myths and Legends – This course puts the myths and legends of the medieval Germanic world in their wider cultural and historical contexts.

The Dystopian Tradition – This class will consider historical and current “what if?” thought experiments, including classics such as 1984 and bestsellers like The Hunger Games.

Tolkien in Context – This course examines how Tolkien’s subcreated world of Middle-earth engages with issues and concepts relevant to readers, including racism, immigration, the place of women, the ongoing battle of good versus evil, environmental concerns and the rise of technology.

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Summer 2022 registration! The semester begins on May 2nd. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Support Signum Symposia

Spring Courses 2022 Jan 16, 2022

recorded on January 4, 2022.

Signum University Spring 2022 semester starts January 10!

In this Course Preview event, you can find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Spring Term (January 10 – April 3) and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer questions from the live audience.

The link to the announcement of this event. https://signumuniversity.org/event/sp...

The Spring 2022 Courses
The Return of King Arthur, lectured by Dr. Gabriel Schenk – This course tracks the return of King Arthur through British and American novels, poetry, plays, films, short stories, and comics. https://signumuniversity.org/catalog/...

Old Saxon: Heliand and Genesis – Read and translate the major works of Old Saxon literature in this language seminar. https://signumuniversity.org/catalog/...

Science Fiction Part I, lectured by Dr. Amy H. Sturgis– Join award-winning scholar Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she explores the ways in which the literature of science fiction over time has asked the question: “What if?” https://signumuniversity.org/catalog/...

Tolkien’s World of Middle-earth, lectured by Dr. Verlyn Flieger – In this course, students will read Tolkien’s critical essays, translations, and imaginative stories to explore how his world and his myth developed over time. https://signumuniversity.org/catalog/...

For more information on the courses in the Spring semester.
https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

To learn more about Signum University, visit: https://signumuniversity.org/about/
For more upcoming events at Signum University, visit us at: https://signumuniversity.org/event/
Don't forget to check out more videos on this channel for the past events and our free, fun, and educational weekly activities.

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Thesis Theater: Elise Trudel Cedeño ~ "Examining the Structure of the Modern Fantasy Epic" Jan 09, 2022

This recording from January 5th, 2022.

Signum master’s student Elise Trudel Cedeño will present her thesis “Series Theory: Examining the Structure of the Modern Fantasy Epic” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Elise’s supervisor, Professor Kris Swank.

Abstract:

Series Theory is a new, critical approach to examining Modern Fantasy in a serial context. There are two disparate methods when analyzing fantasy series texts- either by way of their fantastic content or by discussing how the overall structure of the series contributes to their meaning. There is little scholarship that examines how the structure of a series adds to or fully composes the fantasy narrative. Series Theory, however, melds Structuralism and Seriality Studies concepts together by examining how the repeated patterns within a series set (trilogies, septologies, etc.) creates an exciting escape while remaining safe and consoled by the familiar, repetitive structures. This thesis aims to show how the overall structure of the Modern Fantasy epic, closed-ended series creates meaning to the fantastic through three key stages: the Repetition of familiar narrative structures, the progression and Elaboration of each repeated element, and finally closing with a Eucatastrophic event and the room for a new beginning.

About the Presenter:

Elise Trudel Cedeño makes magic by teaching Literacy and Literature through various homeschool platforms, including Signum Academy Clubs. She earned her B.A. at Wagner College and her Master of Arts in Teaching English at Teachers College, Columbia University. In her free time, when she has any, she fosters kittens with her local humane society, and she tries new recipes for delicious homemade pies. She lives in rural Massachusetts with her loving husband, and by the time this thesis airs, her first child will be making an arrival at any time.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Spring 2022 registration! The semester begins January 10th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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Hugo Award 2021: Best Novel Roundtable Dec 20, 2021

This recording from December 18th, 2021

If the answer is always reading good Science Fiction and fantasy, then the question must always be “How can I best spend my time and escape the normal confines of our day?”

Join us at 6pm Eastern on December 18th for our non-affiliated Hugo Awards evening, when a panel of Science-fiction and Fantasy readers will each talk about one of the shortlisted titles in the Best Novel category of the 2021 Hugo Awards!

The Relentless Moon, by Mary Robinette Kowal (Macmillan) – reviewed by Trevor Brierly
- The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit) – reviewed by Sparrow Alden
- Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com) – reviewed by Kris Swank
- Piranesi by Susanna Clark (Bloomsberry) – reviewed by Brenton Dickieson
- Black sun by Rebecca Roanhorse (Simon and Shuster) – reviewed by Kat Sas
Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tor.com) – reviewed by Laurel Stevens

Each reviewer will take five minutes to introduce their novel and talk about what they liked or didn’t like about it. We will then open up for a wider discussion, taking questions and comments from the audience.

The audience will then vote on which novel they most want to read, and which they think should win the prestigious Best Novel Hugo Award. The actual winner will be announced at DisCon III, shortly after our event!

It will be a journey of discovery, exploration, mind expansion and just plain good fun.

About the Hugo Award:

The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention and chosen by its members. It was first delivered in 1953.

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Spring 2022 registration! The semester begins January 10th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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Thesis Theater: Ryan Moniz ~ “Brewing Óðinn’s Mead: A Reconstructive Approach” Dec 14, 2021

This recording from December 11, 2021.

Signum master’s student Ryan Moniz will present his thesis “Brewing Óðinn’s Mead: A Reconstructive Approach to Germanic Verse Formula” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Ryan’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Nelson Goering.

Abstract:

‘In this thesis, I approach formulaic elements in Germanic alliterative verse from a comparative historical linguistics perspective, applying the comparative method to cognate verse formulae which appear in multiple old Germanic languages including Old Norse, Old English, Old Saxon, and Old High German. I first present the raw data extracted from early mythological, heroic, legendary, and elegiac Germanic alliterative poetry, then I review the data and provide a linguistic reconstruction of each formula presented. The objective of applying this approach is to yield a list of pre-historical reconstructions of verse formulae common to West Germanic languages, and common to both West and North Germanic languages.’

About the Presenter:

Ryan Moniz earned his BA in Linguistics and Cultural Studies from Seattle Pacific University. He has been an enthusiastic reader of ancient and medieval poetry from a young age, and is passionate about the historical connections between languages and cultures. He is currently planning his next journey in the woods with his partner and their dog in Seattle, Washington.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

We are open for Spring 2022 registration! The semester begins on January 10th. To view our upcoming courses: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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Thesis Theater: Eugene Sullivan ~ "Red Indians in Middle Earth" Nov 26, 2021

This recording from November 18 2021.

Signum master’s student Eugene Sullivan will present his thesis “Red Indians in Middle Earth: The Woses of Drúadan Forest and the Racial Landscape of Tolkien’s Legendarium” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Eugene’s thesis supervisor, Dr. Sara Brown.

Abstract:

The shift from the mythological mode of The Book of Lost Tales and the early Silmarillion, to the novelistic mode of The Lost Road and The Lord of the Rings brought the Men of Middle-earth into sharper focus. The Lord of the Rings is, as Tolkien noted, “a Mannish affair”. In populating Middle-earth with Mannish cultures, Tolkien drew on many sources for inspiration, both historical and literary. For the Woses, who appear unexpectedly from the forest in The Return of the King to help bring the Rohirrim to the aid of Gondor, Tolkien looked to a cultural depiction that had captured his interest as a child: the Red Indian. As depicted in The Lord of the Rings, these people are the inheritors of a complicated legacy of stereotypes that reaches back through the Piccaninnies of J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, through the Mohicans and Hurons of Cooper’s Last of the Mohicans, to the travelogues and romances generated by the interactions between European settlers and the Indigenous inhabitants of North America. This thesis explores the history and characteristics of the Romantic Indian trope, and the ways in which their presence, and Tolkien’s attempt to explain that presence, alters the cultural landscape of all three Ages of the history of Middle-earth.

About the Presenter:

Eugene Sullivan earned his BA in English from UC Santa Barbara. He is a lifelong fan of Tolkien, and was a regular listener of the Tolkien Professor podcast before beginning the Masters program at Signum University. He is employed as a System Engineer at Sony Pictures Entertainment, and also plays guitar in a Traditional Irish band. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.

About Signum Thesis Theaters:

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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Tales in the Dark: A Samhain Romp Nov 07, 2021

This recording from October 31st, 2021.

Add to your Halloween experience this October 31st at 5pm with a remembrance of the ancient Gaelic celebration of Samhain.

Samhain, the forerunner of Halloween, was a time of reckoning and observing of the turning of the Fall season into the darkness of the Winter. Although many different communal activities were done, the ones remembered mostly are the recognition of the coming of the dark, and the telling of a good “tale’ of the travel into and out of fairy on this unique night; the Adventures of Nera is such a tale.

On this evening join the ghoulish Signum circle of Prof. Gabriel “O lygad y ffynnon” Schenk, Prof. Sara “Fel cath i gythraul” Brown, Prof. Maggie “Mynd o flaen gofid” Parke, and Dr. Jay “diafol O’ Malley” Moses as the festivities begin.

READ through the dark tale of The Adventures of Nera!

DWELVE into the ancient lore of the Irish

REVEL in the discussion of the attraction of the dark and macabre in tales of old

Enjoy the delight of the coming dark with story and humor!

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here! https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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State of the University Address, Fall 2021 Oct 17, 2021

Signum University State of the University Address by Corey Olsen, featuring the university updates and the SPACE (Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education) program launch. Recorded on Oct. 16, 2021, as part of the Annual Fundraising Campaign 2021 webathon. (You can watch the whole webathon recording here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLUPn...)

0:08 Signum University updates
41:12 SPACE launch announcement: really? Another Signum program?
1:02:30 SPACE launch announcement: the program details

Signum University Annual Fund
https://signumuniversity.org/fund/

SPACE: Signum Portals for Adult Continuing Education
https://signumuniversity.org/space/

For more information about Signum University, visit
https://signumuniversity.org/
https://signumuniversity.org/start/

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Thesis Theater: Shawn Gaffney ~ Hidden Contact: Unremarkable Evidence of Brittonic and Latin Effects Oct 01, 2021

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Dr. Joy Sanchez-Taylor: Author Talk and Q&A on Science Fiction and Authors of Color Aug 26, 2021

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Fall Courses 2021 Aug 23, 2021

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Thesis Theater: Maximilian Hart ~ Draconic Diction: Truth and Lies in Le Guin's Old Speech Aug 17, 2021

This recording from August 16th, 2021, of Thesis Theater: Maximilian Hart ~ Draconic Speech: Truth and Lies in Le Guin's Old Speech

Signum master’s student Maximilian Hart will present his thesis “Draconic Diction: Truth and Lies in Le Guin’s Old Speech” and respond to questions from the audience in an interactive Thesis Theater. The discussion will be facilitated by Maximilian’s thesis supervisor, Kris Swank.

Thesis Abstract

Ursula K. Le Guin’s Earthsea series enters an ongoing dialogue about the nature of language; in it, she proposes a language spoken by dragons and wizards, “the Old Speech,” a language fundamentally unlike our human languages. It is a language in which it is impossible to lie, a language which is simultaneously descriptive and generative: to say the name of a thing is to have the thing come to be. This Old Speech is what the ancient poetic unity of language—to use Owen Barfield’s terms—might look like: a language in which the Tao, the underlying reality of a thing, is named in every word, a language in which every word is a narrative and true. However, dragons, not the titular, and ostensibly central, wizards, are the true poets of Earthsea; the dragons are the ones who see with a poet’s eye and who are actually capable of wielding the Old Speech in its ancient, unified, fully poetic sense, a sense which encompasses all shades of meaning and existence and narrative in one word. Le Guin’s Old Speech, then, can best be understood as a true language of Barfieldian ancient unity, and the dragons are not liars but poets practicing their art.

About the Presenter

Maximilian Hart is a high school English teacher and has been a student at Signum University since 2016. His academic focus is currently on studying the works of Ursula K. Le Guin and her approaches to language. When he’s not reading books for class or his own high school students’ papers, he’s spending time with his wife and children or pretending to improve at chess or woodworking.

About Signum Thesis Theaters

Each of our master’s students writes a thesis at the end of their degree program, exploring a topic of their choice. The Thesis Theater is their opportunity to present their research to a general audience, and answer questions. All are welcome to attend!

The original announcement for this event: https://signumuniversity.org/event/ma...

Signum Symposia playlist • Signum Symposia
Thesis Theater playlist • Thesis Theater

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit: https://signumuniversity.org/

Learn about Signum University’s mission, leadership and more:
https://signumuniversity.org/about/

Want to enjoy Signum’s educational offerings? Start here!
https://signumuniversity.org/start/

On our Graduate Program.
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Upcoming courses.
https://signumuniversity.org/classes/...
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If you have any questions,
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If you're interested in our Free courses and activities, please visit
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You will find lots of our past recordings here on this YouTube channel, and you can also find our podcasts on this page: https://mythgard.org/listen/

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Summer Courses 2021 Apr 17, 2021

Recorded on April 16th, 2021.

Summer 2021 semester starts on May 3rd, 2021.

Find out about the new courses offered at Signum University this coming Summer Term (May 3 – July 23), and meet the professors who will be teaching them! Representatives from the courses will be on hand to explain how the classes work, what people can expect if they sign up, and answer audience questions.

The Summer 2021 Courses:

Exploring Star Trek – Amy Sturgis boldly takes Signum where it’s never gone before: into Star Trek!

Introduction to Old English – This course provides an introduction to Old English grammar, giving students a working reading competency in the language and the chance to put that knowledge into practice.

Tolkien’s Poetry – In this class, we will examine Tolkien’s short poetic works in detail, taking a chronological look at Tolkien’s career through the window of his poetry.

Classical Myths and Legends – This course puts the myths and legends of the Classical world in their wider cultural and historical contexts.

To learn more about Signum University, visit: https://signumuniversity.org/about/

We are open for Summer 2021 registration! For a list of upcoming courses, visit: https://signumuniversity.org/classes/future/

For more upcoming events at Signum University, visit us at: https://signumuniversity.org/event/

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Holly Ordway: Author Chat and Q&A on Tolkien's Modern Reading Apr 08, 2021

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Carolyne Larrington - Author Q&A on Game of Thrones Mar 22, 2021

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Fireside Poetry for the Winter Solstice Dec 21, 2020

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The Tower by Owen Barfield: Presentation and Q&A Dec 03, 2020

The recording from December 3, 2020, of a presentation and Q&A with the editors of a new volume of previously unpublished work by Owen Barfield, the first and last Inkling. The event includes a short talk introducing Barfield’s work by the author’s grandson. The discussion is moderated by Gabriel Schenk.

The panelists:
Owen A. Barfield, the grandson of the author Owen Barfield,
Dr. Leslie A. Taylor,
Dr. Jefferey H. Taylor,
Dr. David Blakesley

Owen Barfield Literary Estate
https://owenbarfield.org/
The Tower: Major Poems and Plays at Parlor Press website.
https://parlorpress.com/products/the-...

For more information, please visit the original announcement page for this event.
https://signumuniversity.org/event/th...

Signum Symposia playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

For more information about Signum University and our degree program, please visit https://signumuniversity.org/

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Thesis Theater with Mark Lachniet Nov 12, 2020

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State of the University Address, Fall 2020 Oct 25, 2020

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Open Class: The Anatomy of the Vampire Myth Oct 14, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Gwen Grant Oct 08, 2020

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Open Class: Adaptations and Fandoms Oct 07, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Jens Hieber Oct 02, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Alexis Heit Sep 05, 2020

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How the Humanities Can Fix the Foundational Skills Gap Aug 29, 2020

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Roundtable on Fall 2020 Courses Aug 15, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Mickey Corso Aug 05, 2020

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Hugo Award 2020: Best Novel Roundtable Aug 03, 2020

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John Garth Author Chat and Q&A Jul 25, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Amy Troolin Jul 02, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Keli Fancher Jun 10, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Anne Marie Gazzolo May 29, 2020

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Thesis Theater with David Hepting May 09, 2020

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State of the University Address, Spring 2020 May 06, 2020

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Thesis Theater with Christopher Hawkins May 03, 2020

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Roundtable on Summer 2020 Courses Apr 22, 2020

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Teaching Engaging Classes Online Mar 23, 2020

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An Eglerio to Christopher Tolkien Feb 14, 2020

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Roundtable on Spring 2020 Courses Jan 29, 2020

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Ghost Stories for the Winter Solstice Jan 29, 2020

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What is Signum Culture? Dec 15, 2019

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Narnia and Friendship Dec 02, 2019

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Phillip Pullman's The Secret Commonwealth Oct 13, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Kelly Orazi Oct 13, 2019

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C.S. Lewis, Gender, and The Four Loves Sep 26, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Stephen Wiseheart Jun 29, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Sara Waldorf Jun 19, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Richard Rohlin Mar 23, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Richard Rohlin Mar 18, 2019

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Thesis Theatre with Emily Denny and Lola Lindle Nov 12, 2018

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Mental Health in the Academy Nov 12, 2018

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Thesis Theatre with Jenn Raimundo Nov 12, 2018

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Mythmoot V: 05 - JRR Tolkien's Guidelines for Translation and Sir Orfeo Jul 25, 2018

A translator is not free: J. R. R. Tolkien’s Guidelines for Translation and Their Application in Sir

Orfeo

Curtis Weyant

While bemoaning his struggles with translating the Middle English poem “Pearl,” Tolkien declared to his aunt, Jane Neave, that ‘a translator is not free”: but he neglected to delineate the specific rules by which he believed translators were shackled. Fortunately, elsewhere in his writings, Tolkien provides hints and directives on how to approach translating. This paper collects Tolkien’s translation guidelines from across several of his works, and it describes how he applied them in his own translations, using his posthumously published translation of Sir Orfeo as a basis for demonstration, particularly in comparison to the Auchinleck manuscript version as published by Kenneth Sisam (for which Tolkien provided a glossary) and the Middle English edition Tolkien prepared for his 1944 naval cadets’ course on the poem.

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Mythmoot V: 06 - Narrative Functions of Sickness in Egils Saga Skallagrimssonar and Laxdaela Saga Jul 13, 2018

Getting Sick of It: Narrative Functions of Sickness in Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar and Laxdæla

Saga

Laura Lee Smith

Many characters die in the course of Egils Saga Skallagrímssonar and Laxdæla Saga, most from battle wounds or homicide, and some from old age or other natural causes. Characters may also take to their beds for various reasons, including grief. But in some instances, the narrator specifically reports that a character is sick. Such mentions warrant attention, because “illness and healing are not presented as central themes of medieval Scandinavians’ mythical understanding of the world” (Hall 196). Indeed, illness in these two sagas, where it is mentioned at all, serves one of three main narrative functions. The first function may be simple “housekeeping”: that is, death moves characters off-stage or furthers the plot by setting up inheritance disputes or the like, and illness is an efficient way of justifying a death without special groundwork or explanation. The second function is that an illness, foreseen by the sufferer to be a fatal one, gives him one last chance to influence the future. The third function is that of a temporary disability that reveals something about the sufferer’s mental or emotional state, or other qualities that would have remained hidden.

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Mythmoot V: 07 - Crossing Frontiers from the Home front to the Battlefront Jul 13, 2018

The Bitter Watches of the Night: From Anne Elliot to Éowyn of Rohan—Crossing Frontiers from

the Home front to the Battlefront

Jennifer Ewing

J. R. R. Tolkien is often accused of either not having enough female characters, or that those present are not as fully realized as his male characters. However, Tolkien’s keen understanding of the emotional challenges women face is revealed when we consider the surprising parallelism between the life of Éowyn of Rohan in The Lord of the Rings and Anne Elliot of Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Anne’s conversation with Captain Harville about which sex is more constant in loving the other seems an odd passage to compare with the discussion that Aragorn, Éomer, and Gandalf have at Éowyn’s bedside in the Houses of Healing, but it is exactly this comparison that demonstrates how Tolkien crossed the boundary from high fantasy into topics important in women’s literature. Anne claims that women do not forget as quickly as men do because women remain at home, subject to their emotions, while men go out into the world to work, and that distraction aids forgetting. Likewise, Gandalf observes that Éomer had his horses and fields, while his sister, because she was a woman, stayed home caring for her infirm uncle, enduring emotional suffering and feelings of uselessness. Anne’s explanation that “We live at home, quiet, confined, and our feelings prey upon us” is eerily echoed by Gandalf: “Who knows what she spoke to the darkness, alone, in the bitter watches of the night, when all her life seemed shrinking, and the walls of her bower closing in about her?”

This presentation will discuss the nearly twenty commonalities found between the two women as they cross the frontier from the home front to the battlefront, including their paternal and sibling relationships, familial duties, appearances, choices of husbands, motifs of loneliness and death, and decisions about their futures. Even though they reside in two very different genres, by the end of their respective novels, these women become independent and resilient, knowing their own minds.

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Mythmoot V: 04 - The composite authorship of Andreas Jul 12, 2018

The composite authorship of Andreas

David Maddock

The Old English poem “Andreas” has long been a source of controversy in the Anglo-Saxon scholarly community. Although it bears no runic signature, scholars have noted significant stylistic similarities between “Andreas” and the four signed poems of Cynewulf, suggesting that they may share a common author. Others have cited affinities with Beowulf or grammatical differences from Cynewulf to argue against Cynewulfian authorship. By correlating quantitative analysis of oral-formulaic language with the lexomics techniques of cluster analysis and moving ratios pioneered by Dr. Michael Drout, this paper demonstrates the existence of an older Beowulfian core around which a Cynewulfian poet built the received poem. Understanding the composite nature of “Andreas” can bring fresh data to a notorious scholarly controversy.

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Mythmoot V: 03 - The Postmodern Kaleidoscope of London Below in Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere Jul 12, 2018

The Postmodern Kaleidoscope of London Below in Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere

Chris Yokel

In Neil Gaiman’s first novel Neverwhere, an ordinary Londoner named Richard Mayhew is ushered into the fantastical underworld of London Below when he helps the mysterious injured vagrant girl, Door. After crossing paths with her and getting caught up in her story, Richard must traverse the shadowy and dangerous realms of the London underworld. In London Below, Neil Gaiman has crafted a postmodern kaleidoscope of a world that melds literary elements such as Greek mythology, Atlantis, Dante’s Inferno, Paradise Lost, Alice in Wonderland, Puss in Boots, and other stories through which Richard must travel as he undergoes his heroic journey. Gaiman crosses borders between these genres and stories as he relates Richard’s own border crossing from London Above to London Below.

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Mythmoot V: 02 - Tolkien’s Crossing of Revisionary Boundaries Jul 12, 2018

Tolkien’s Crossing of Revisionary Boundaries

Chris Gavaler and Nathaniel Goldberg

Some novelists revise their stories by restarting them. Others revise by revealing new things about them. Still others revise simply by continuing them. All of these kinds of revisions are common, but J.R.R. Tolkien crossed revisionary boundaries by engaging in all three simultaneously.

In 1937 Tolkien published the first edition of The Hobbit, or There and Back Again. In 1951 he restarted the story by publishing the second edition; among other changes, Tolkien replaced the initial account of Bilbo’s encounter with Gollum (in Chapter 5, “Riddles in the Dark”) with a darker version. In 1954 in The Lord of the Rings (in the Prologue and in Book 2, Chapter 2, “The Council of Elrond”) Tolkien revealed that the initial account was a “lie” and the darker version was “the true account” of what had actually happened. Also in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien continued the darker version from the 1951 edition of The Hobbit directly.

Using Tolkien as our exemplar, we identify these three kinds of revisions—restarts, revelations, and continuations—as reboots, retcons, and sequels, and determine the necessary and sufficient condition for each kind of revision. We conclude that the 1951 editions of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings stand in multiple revisionary relations to the 1937 edition. Tolkien crossed revisionary boundaries in his different works: sometimes even in the same ones.

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Mythmoot V: 01 - Welcome Jul 12, 2018

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Thesis Theatre with Franny Moore-Kyle and John Costello Jun 06, 2018

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Tom Shippey's "Laughing Shall I Die" Jun 05, 2018

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How to Present at Conferences Jun 05, 2018

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Transhumanism in Literature Roundtable Jun 05, 2018

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State of the University Address: Certification Update Apr 06, 2018

Special: State of the University Address

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Thesis Theatre with Rob Gosselin Mar 03, 2018

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The Inklings and King Arthur Roundtable Feb 07, 2018

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Thesis Theatre with Tyler Swope Feb 07, 2018

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Faculty Chat with John Garth Dec 19, 2017

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Readings from Signum Webathon 2017 Nov 07, 2017

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All About the MA Program at Signum 2017 Nov 07, 2017

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Thesis Theatre: Katherine Sas May 19, 2017

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Episode 26: Tolkien's Sigurd and Gudrún, Part 3 May 06, 2017

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Tolkien's Sigurd and Gudrún, Part 2 May 03, 2017

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Tolkien's Sigurd and Gudrún, Part 1 May 01, 2017

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Old Norse Roundtable - April 2017 Apr 25, 2017

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Tolkien Dark Kullervo Aotrou And Itroun 1 Feb 17, 2017

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JRR Tolkien's Beowulf with Dr. Tom Shippey, Part 3 Feb 16, 2017

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JRR Tolkien's Beowulf with Dr. Tom Shippey, Part 2 Jan 21, 2017

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JRR Tolkien's Beowulf with Dr. Tom Shippey, Part 1 Jan 16, 2017

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One Fantastic Rogue Beast Jan 07, 2017

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Christmas Faculty Roundtable, 2016 Jan 02, 2017

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Thesis Theatre: Kris Swank Oct 10, 2016

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Thesis Theatre: Aaron Masters and Dan Kinney, with Sarah Brown and Sørina Higgins (2016-09-17) Sep 28, 2016

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State of the University: Signum in 2016 Dec 20, 2015

http://signumuniversity.org/news/state-of-the-university-in-2016/

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Dr. Corey Olsen Blinks with His Take on Doctor Who Dec 20, 2015

As part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign in the fall of 2015, in this Mythgard Academy mini-class, Signum University President Dr. Corey Olsen discussed the story and themes of the episode "Blink" from Series 3 of Doctor Who. Later in the segment, he was joined by Signum students Katherine Sas and Curtis Weyant – of the Kat & Curt's TV Re-View podcast – to discuss how the episode fits more generally into the overall show.

Mythgard Academy, the Simarillion Film Project, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.

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Talking Adaptation with Jim Butcher Dec 20, 2015

Stars and stones! Crows and furies! SilmFilm co-hosts Corey Olsen, Trish Lambert and Dave Kale went all fan, all the time as they spent time with author Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files, Codex Alera, and the brand new Cinder Spires series) about adaptation, from Jackson’s take on the The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to his own experiences in the TV adaptation of The Dresden Files. Conversation range wide and far, and included Jim sharing about his own evolution as a writer—information that will be of interest to any aspiring author.

The Simarillion Film Project, Mythgard Academy, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.

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Dr. Dimitra Fimi: Halloween in Literature Dec 20, 2015

As part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign Halloween Extravaganza in the fall of 2015, fantasy scholar and Signum lecturer Dr. Dimitra Fimi discussed Halloween customs and rites in literature – including extracts from some unexpected pieces of literature that have a Halloween flavor.

Faculty chats, Mythgard Academy courses, the Simarillion Film Project, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.

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Mythgard Academy: The Father Christmas Letters, by J.R.R. Tolkien Dec 20, 2015

The Mythgard Academy lecture series focuses on novel-length books, with a weekly lecture over eight to ten weeks. However, as part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign the Halloween Extravaganza in 2015, Dr. Corey Olsen conducted a lecture on one of Tolkien's shorter works: The Father Christmas Letters, a selection of letters Tolkien wrote to his children over a number of years. If you’ve never read or considered this short but imaginative book, this is your chance to delve into it.

Mythgard Academy, the Simarillion Film Project, and other free events and series that we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.

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Sparrow Alden & Dave Kale: Fun with Words in The Hobbit Dec 20, 2015

As part of the Signum University Annual Fund Campaign in the fall of 2015, Signum Master’s Program participant and resident Spreadsheet Queen Sparrow Alden and "should be an advisor to The Big Bang Theory" Dave Kale talk about computational text analysis of The Hobbit. Sounds dry? You don’t know these two. With Corey Olsen chiming in from the sidelines and audience participation designed into the segment, this is a fun-filled talk complete with charts and word geekery galore!

Mythgard Academy, the Simarillion Film Project, and the other free shows and series we offer free to the public are funded by tax-deductible donations. Please consider donating by going to http://www.signumuniversity.org and clicking on the "Donate" link at the top of the fast links box.

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Guest Lecture Series Malcolm Guite – The Truth of Imagination in the Writings of Lewis and Tolkien Oct 26, 2015

        <p style="text-align: center;">This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>.</p>
        <img class="size-medium wp-image-8824 alignright" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/img_3854-sepia-200x300-200x300.jpg" alt="Malcom Guite" width="200" height="300" /><strong>Synopsis:</strong> John Keats spoke of "The truth of Imagination"; this lecture will explore the ways in which the rich, intuitive, and image-laden myth-making of Lewis and Tolkien allows the imagination to become a truth-bearing faculty.
        <h3><strong>Recordings from Monday, Oct. 26, 2015</strong></h3>
        <em>Watch:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp4">Video</a>
        <em>Listen:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-10-26_MalcolmGuiteTruthOfImaginationLewisTolkien.mp3">Audio</a>
        <h2>Suggested Reading</h2>
        <ul>
            <li><i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008GOBPT2/ref=as_li_tl?&amp;tag=mythgainstit-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Tree and Leaf</a></i> by Tolkien, especially the poem "Mythopoeia"</li>
            <li>The introduction to <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Hope-Poetry-Theology-Imagination/dp/140944936X?tag=mythgainstit-20" target="_blank">Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination</a></i> by Malcolm Guite</li>
        </ul>
        &nbsp;
        <h2>Biography</h2>
        <a href="http://www.malcolmguite.com/"><strong>Malcolm Guite</strong></a> is a priest, poet, professor, writer, and rock-n-roller. He is Bye-Fellow, Chaplain, and Supervisor in English and Theology at <a href="http://www.girton.cam.ac.uk/guite-revd-malcolm" target="_blank">Girton College</a>, Cambridge University. He researches and writes about the interface between theology and the arts, particularly Theology and Literature, and has special interests in Coleridge and C.S. Lewis. He has published a book entitled <em><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Faith-Hope-Poetry-Theology-Imagination/dp/140944936X/ref=la_B0034Q9LNE_1_2?tag=mythgainstit-20" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination</a></em>, as well as poetry and theological writing. He is also one of the Clergy at St. Edward King and Martyr, in the Centre of Cambridge. He has a rock band called Mystery Train and is part of a jazz-poetry performance collective called riprap.

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Guest Lecture Series Tom Shippey – Myth in Modern Fantasy Sep 09, 2015

        <p style="text-align: center">This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>.</p>
        <img class=" size-medium wp-image-8877 alignleft" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/GLS_Tom_Shippey-300x225.jpg" alt="Tom Shippey" width="300" height="225" />

        Both mythical studies and the study of fairy-tales took on new importance during the early nineteenth century, along with the entirely new development of comparative philology. Jacob Grimm was in all three cases the pivotal figure. The relationship between them continued to fascinate both scholars and creative writers, including Andrew Lang, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and their successors. This lecture will show how scholarly research acted as a direct stimulus for many creative writers.

        &nbsp;
        <h2></h2>
        <h3>Recordings from Thursday, Sept. 10</h3>
        <em>Watch:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp4">Video</a>
        <em>Listen:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-09-10_TomShippeyMythInModernFantasy.mp3">Audio</a>
        <h2>Suggested Reading</h2>
        <ul>
            <li>C.S. Lewis, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743234928/ref=as_li_tl?&amp;tag=mythgaintit-20" rel="nofollow">That Hideous Strength</a></em> (1954)</li>
            <li>C.S. Lewis, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Till-We-Have-Faces-Retold/dp/0156904365/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">Till We Have Faces</a></em> (1976)</li>
            <li>J.R.R. Tolkien, "On Fairy Stories," in <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tolkien-Reader-J-R-R/dp/0345345061/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">The Tolkien Reader</a></em> (1966)</li>
        </ul>
        <h2>Background Reading</h2>
        <ul>
            <li>Bruno Bettelheim, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Uses-Enchantment-Meaning-Importance-Fairy/dp/0307739635/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">The Uses of Enchantment</a></em> (1976, pick a chapter or two from Part Two, which deals with individual fairy-tales)</li>
            <li>Derek Brewer, "The Interpretation of Fairy Tales", in <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Fairy-Hilda-Ellis-Davidson/dp/1843840812/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">A Companion to the Fairy Tale</a></em>, ed. Hilda Ellis Davidson and Anna Chaudhuri, 15-37</li>
            <li>Sir James Frazer, <em><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3623/3623-h/3623-h.htm" rel="nofollow">The Golden Bough</a></em> (many editions from 1890: just skip-read the first 3 chapters)</li>
            <li>Allan G. Hunter, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Princes-Frogs-Ugly-Sisters-Brothers/dp/1844091848/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">Princes, Frogs and Ugly Sisters</a></em> (2010, just pick one or two chapters out, as with Bettelheim above)</li>
            <li>Robert A. Segal, <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Short-Introduction-Robert-Segal/dp/0192803476/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">Myth: A Very Short Introduction</a></em> (2004)</li>
            <li>Tom Shippey, "Rewriting the Core," in <em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Fairy-Hilda-Ellis-Davidson/dp/1843840812/ref=sr_1_1?tag=mythgainstit-20" rel="nofollow">A Companion to the Fairy Tale</a></em>, above, 253-74</li>
        </ul>
        <h2>Biography</h2>
        <a href="http://www.mythgard.org/about/our-faculty/dr-tom-shippey/"><strong>Tom Shippey </strong></a>holds a PhD from Cambridge University and served for many years as the Chair of Humanities at Saint Louis University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is a scholar of medieval literature, Anglo-Saxon language and literature, medievalism, modern fantasy, and science fiction. He is one of the world’s leading scholars on the works of Tolkien. <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Road-Middle-earth-Tolkien-created-mythology-ebook/dp/B00I7JFC5Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=tom+shippey">His publications include <em>The Road to Middle-earth</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Century-Tom-Shippey/dp/0618257594/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=tom+shippey"><em>J.R.R. Tolkien: Author of the Century</em></a>, and <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Oxford-Book-Science-Fiction-Stories/dp/0192803816/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423358483&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=tom+shippey"><em>The Oxford Book of Science Fiction Stories</em></a>. He has published many articles on <em>Beowulf</em> and Anglo-Saxon literature. He was born in Calcutta, India, and as a child played with a friend’s full-grown pet Bengal tiger.

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Guest Lecture Series Amy H. Sturgis – The Jedi, the Cowboy, and Thomas Edison? Pulp Science Fiction and Star Wars Aug 14, 2015

        <p style="padding-left: 30px">This free online lecture is part of the <a href="http://mythgard.org/academy/guest-lecture-series/">Mythgard Academy Guest Lecture Series</a>.</p>


        [caption id="attachment_1225" align="alignleft" width="180"]<a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/07/MI_AmySturgis.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1225" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2011/07/MI_AmySturgis.jpg" alt="Amy Sturgis" width="180" height="280" /></a> Dr. Amy H. Sturgis[/caption]

        What images come to mind when you think of Star Wars? Luke Skywalker watching the twin suns set on Tatooine? Princess Leia with a blaster in her hand and buns on her head? The glow of a lightsaber in the darkness? These visuals convey volumes, and they spring in part from a common origin.

        One of the keys to the worldwide success of Star Wars is that the saga draws from a variety of global sources, both classical and contemporary. Join Dr. Amy H. Sturgis as she discusses one particular tradition that has left its indelible imprint on the Star Wars franchise. How did pulp science fiction evolve? What is the relationship between this genre and the Western? And how can tracing the pulp ancestry of Star Wars give us new insights on key moments and messages across the Star Wars canon — and quite possibly shed light on the forthcoming film The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans and newbies alike are welcome!

        &nbsp;

        <strong>Recordings from Saturday, Aug. 15, 2015</strong>

        <em>Watch: </em><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp4">Video
        </a><i>Listen: </i><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-08-15_TheJeditheCowboyandThomasEdisonPulpScienceFictionandStarWars.mp3">Audio
        </a><em>Suggested Reading: </em><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003ZSJ212/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20" target="_blank"><em>Star Wars </em>movies</a> (episodes I – VI)
        <h2><a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-8307 alignright" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/05/StarWarsCourseBanner_MI-300x137.jpg" alt="The Force of Star Wars Banner" width="300" height="137" /></a>The Force of <em>Star Wars</em></h2>
        Be sure to check out Dr. Sturgis' fall class for the Mythgard Institute, <a href="http://mythgard.org/academics/fall-2015-courses/the-force-of-star-wars-examining-the-epic/">The Force of <em>Star Wars</em>: Examining the Epic</a>. This 12-week class will look at the traditions out of which George Lucas built his epic story, while also examining the cultural impact of <em>Star Wars </em>through today.
        <h2>Biography</h2>
        <a href="http://www.amyhsturgis.com/"><strong>Amy H. Sturgis</strong></a> earned her Ph.D. in Intellectual History from Vanderbilt University and specializes in Science Fiction/Fantasy and Native American Studies. She is the author of four books and the editor of six others, and she has published over forty scholarly and mainstream essays. Some of her honors include the Imperishable Flame Award for Tolkien/Inklings Scholarship, the Scholar <span class="il">Guest</span> of Honor distinction at Mythcon XXXVII, and the L.A. Press Club's Best Magazine Review/Criticism/Column Award. Since 2008, <span class="il">Sturgis</span> has contributed regular "Looking Back at Genre History" segments and dramatic readings to StarShipSofa, which in 2010 became the first podcast in history to win the Hugo Award. With over 200 presentations to her credit, <span class="il">Sturgis</span> is a regular speaker at universities and genre conventions across North America and Europe. A faculty member at Signum University's Mythgard Institute since 2012, she also teaches Liberal Studies at Lenoir-Rhyne University. <span class="il">Sturgis</span> lives with her husband and their Boston terrier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. Her official website is <a href="http://amyhsturgis.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">amyhsturgis.com</a>.

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Thesis Chat Sparrow Alden – Words That You Were Saying Aug 13, 2015

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Guest Lecture Series David Brin – Can Science Fiction Change The World? Jul 24, 2015

        <h3>David Brin</h3>
        <h4><b>Can Science Fiction Change the World?</b></h4>
        <a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/dbrin.jpg"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-8826 alignleft" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/dbrin-205x300.jpg" alt="David Brin" width="205" height="300" /></a><a href="http://www.davidbrin.com">David Brin</a> is a scientist, speaker, technical consultant, and world-known author. His novels have been New York Times Bestsellers, winning multiple Hugo, Nebula, and other awards. At least a dozen have been translated into more than twenty languages. Some of his best-known novels include <em>Earth</em>, <em>The Postman</em> (filmed in 1997), and Hugo Award winners <em>Startide Rising</em> and <em>The Uplift War</em>. A leading commentator and speaker on modern trends, his nonfiction book <em>The Transparent Society</em> won the Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association. Brin serves on advisory committees dealing with subjects as diverse as national defense and homeland security, astronomy and space exploration, SETI and nanotechnology, future/prediction and philanthropy. He has served since 2010 on the council of external advisers for NASA's Innovative and Advanced Concepts group (NIAC), which supports the most inventive and potentially ground-breaking new endeavors. In 2013, David Brin helped to establish the Arthur C. Clarke Center for Human Imagination at UCSD, where he was honored as a "distinguished alumnus" and where he was thereafter a Visiting Scholar in Residence.

        Brin's newest novel <em>Existence</em> explores the ultimate question: billions of planets are ripe for life. So where is Everybody? David's main thread: how will we shape the days and years ahead – and how will tomorrow shape us? David Brin's guest lecture is titled "Can Science Fiction Change the World?"

        Recordings from <strong>Saturday, July 25, 2015</strong>:
        <em>Watch: </em><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-07-25_DavidBrinCanScienceFictionChangeTheWorld.mp4">Guest Lecture Video</a>
        <em>Listen:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-07-25_DavidBrinCanScienceFictionChangeTheWorld.mp3">Guest Lecture Audio
        </a><em>Review:</em> Additional Resources
        <ul>
            <li><a href="http://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/future-is-here/david-brin/?no-ist">Will we diversify into many types of humanity?</a> (Video at <em>Smithsonian Magazine</em>;<em> </em><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/davidbrin/human-and-beyond-diversity-who-will-we-meet-make-and-become">slides</a>)</li>
            <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i275AvgVvow">Indignation, addiction and hope — does it help to be "mad as hell?"</a> (TEDx talk; <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/davidbrin/indignation-addiction-the-modern-plague-tedxucsd2014">slides</a>)</li>
            <li><a href="http://www.closertotruth.com/contributor/david-brin/profile">Closer to Truth</a> (Video series)</li>
            <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzr-DSDMkJM&amp;feature=youtu.be"><em>Existence</em> official trailer</a> (YouTube Video)</li>
        </ul>

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Guest Lecture Series Matthew Dickerson – Tolkien as Early Environmentalist Jun 16, 2015

        <h3>Matthew Dickerson</h3>
        <h4><b>Tolkien as Early Environmentalist</b></h4>
        <a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/shapeimage_4.png"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-8828 alignleft" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/08/shapeimage_4-223x300.png" alt="Matthew Dickerson" width="223" height="300" /></a><a href="http://matthewdickerson.net/Welcome.html"><strong>Matthew Dickerson</strong></a> is a Professor at Middlebury College in Vermont, associated with the Department of Computer Science, the Program of Environmental Studies, and the <a href="http://blogs.middlebury.edu/neywc/">New England Young Writers’ Conference at Bread Loaf</a> (which he directs). He has written or co-written several important books on Tolkien and other fantasy literature, including <em>Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien</em>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00B8563F2/?tag=mythgainstit-20"><em>From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy</em></a>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1587430851/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20"><em>Following Gandalf: Epic Battles and Moral Victory in The Lord of the Rings</em></a>; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0813125227/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20"><em>Narnia and the Fields of Arbol: The Environmental Vision of C. S. Lewis</em></a>; and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1587433001/ref=as_li_tl?tag=mythgainstit-20"><em>A Hobbit Journey: Discovering the Enchantment of J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth</em></a>. He also writes novels, including a novelization of the "Finn and Hengest" story. In addition to his teaching and writing, he is a musicians, songwriter, and avid fly-fisherman. He lives on a 62-acre wooded hillside parcel of land, where he taps trees, makes his own maple syrup, raises honeybees, keeps a garden without pesticides, and heats his house using wood from his own property.

        Matthew Dickerson's guest lecture for the Mythgard Academy is titled "Tolkien as Early Environmentalist."

        <strong>Recordings from June 17, 2015:</strong>
        <em>Watch</em>: <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-06-17_MatthewDickersononTolkienasEarlyEnvironmentalist.mp4">Guest Lecture Video</a>
        <em>Listen:</em> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-06-17_MatthewDickersononTolkienasEarlyEnvironmentalist.mp3">Guest Lecture Audio</a>

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Guest Lecture Series Michael Drout – Lexonomic Analysis of Beowulf Mar 22, 2015

        <h3>Michael D. C. Drout</h3>
        <h4><b>Lexomic Analysis of Beowulf and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Scholarship on the Poem: A Confluence</b></h4>
        <a href="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/02/NewDroutCoverPhoto.jpg"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-8142 alignleft" src="http://mythgard.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2015/02/NewDroutCoverPhoto-200x300.jpg" alt="NewDroutCoverPhoto" width="200" height="300" /></a><a href="http://michaeldrout.com/"><strong>Michael Drout</strong></a> is Professor of English and Chair of the English Department at Wheaton College in Massachusetts. He has published several books of scholarship on Tolkien, Anglo-Saxon literature in general, and <em>Beowulf</em> in particular, including <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Encyclopedia-Scholarship-Assessment/dp/0415865115/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423356926&amp;sr=1-2"><em>J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment</em></a><em>, </em><a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Sorcerers-Men-Tolkien-Fantasy-Literature/dp/0760785236/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423356926&amp;sr=1-3"><em>Of Sorcerers and Men: Tolkien and the Roots of Modern Fantasy Literature</em></a>, and <a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Beowulf-Critics-Medieval-Renaissance-Studies/dp/0866982906/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1423356926&amp;sr=1-4"><em>Beowulf and the Critics.</em></a> He is active in the promotion and dissemination of spoken Old English texts, and has himself made many recordings of Old English poetry and prose. His important work at Wheaton College’s Lexomics Research Group has led to the development of new, computer-assisted methods of textual analysis.

        Michael Drout's guest lecture for the Mythgard Academy is titled "Lexomic Analysis of <em>Beowulf</em> and J.R.R. Tolkien’s Scholarship on the Poem: A Confluence."

        &nbsp;

        <strong>Recordings from March 23, 2015:</strong>
        <em>Watch: </em><a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-03-23_LexomicAnalysisofBeowulfMichaelDrout.mp4">Guest Lecture Video</a>
        <i>Listen:</i> <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2015-03-23_LexomicAnalysisofBeowulfMichaelDrout.mp3">Guest Lecture Audio</a>

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Faculty Chat Professor Sørina Higgins – The Heraldry of Heaven Oct 06, 2014

        C. S. Lewis used the German term <em>sehnsucht</em> to describe an inconsolable yearning, <span style="font-family: Andalus,serif">"</span>an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.<span style="font-family: Andalus,serif">"</span> Mythgard faculty member Sørina Higgins offered observations about Lewis and <em>sehnsucht</em> in a bonus lecture entitled "The Heraldry of Heaven: The Development of Sehnsucht in the Writings of C. S. Lewis" for the <a href="http://www.mythgard.org/academics/fall-2014-courses/lewis-tolkien/">Tolkien-Lewis Mythgard Institute</a> course. And in the true Mythgard tradition of continuously breaking new ground, this lecture is available free for viewing and/or listening.

        <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2014-10-07_TheHeraldryofHeaven.mp3" target="_blank">Audio version</a>

        <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.mythgardacademy/GuestLectureSeries/2014-10-07_TheHeraldryofHeaven.mp4" target="_blank">Video version</a>

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