Tolkien 2005 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Mithalwen · 04-19-2006, 06:12 AM

Well the premium bond did come up yesterday but only to the tune of £100 - which was nevertheless and appreciated windfall, particularly since I had assumed the nasty brown envelope from up north was from the Inland Revenue. Not enough to make a difference to the conference. So I thinkI will spend it on shoes ...and maybe a chocolate fountain ...

Estelyn Telcontar · 04-30-2006, 03:22 PM

I attended a German Tolkien Society seminar last weekend which featured several lectures by experts I'd already heard last year in Birmingham. I very much enjoyed it, especially as I'd already decided that the Oxford conference is not on my agenda this year. I asked the other participants, and the general consensus was: it's too expensive, and after Birmingham last year, we really don't need to go to something similar so soon. I wonder how well it will be attended...

Child of the 7th Age · 05-02-2006, 01:32 AM

I cannot believe the pricetag on this! Either they are putting people up at luxury digs, or someone has to be making money on this. Or perhaps they are paying all the speakers huge stipends?

Mithalwen · 05-02-2006, 06:00 AM

My guess is they only want serious academics who will be funded by their departments not the lay enthusiasts...... Of course a more select gathering pushes the price up.....and Oxford is generally a lot pricier than Brum

davem · 05-02-2006, 08:09 AM

They had another Conference a couple of years back - 'Landscapes with Angels' - about fantasy literature, with a focus on Tolkien & Chesterton & the talks from that have been published as a special edition of the Chesterton Review, so I'm assuming the same will occur with this one. Its available as a single issue here http://www.isi.org/journals/chesterton_review.html

And for anyone who didn't make it to Birmingham last year the Tolkien Society are due to publish the talks from that either later this year or next.

Fordim Hedgethistle · 05-02-2006, 10:57 AM

The program for that conference is quite wonderfully funny. On the evening of Monday 21 August 2006 for example, we learn that: "Evening free for conversations, orientation and rest". Does one have to do all three, or can one do but two? Does one have to do them in order or can one go a bit mad and do them out of sequence?

Even more amusing is the agenda for Thursday 24 August 2006 when after lunch there is a "Free period for rest or shopping". What if one wants to nip down to the Bird and Baby for a pint? Would that be frowned upon do you think?

From the looks of this thing, it is not something from which hoi polloi is being excluded -- quite the reverse! From the price tag, the lack of multiple offerings, the speakers list, the special guests, the paper topics and the location I assume that this is being put on specifically for Tolkien Fans of Means who don't mind dropping a bundle on a fab week walking in the professor's footsteps. I can assure you all that there are very very VERY few academics out there fortunate enough to work for institutions who would be willing to shell out that much money for a conference!

Lalwendë · 05-03-2006, 06:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fordim Hedgethistle

The program for that conference is quite wonderfully funny. On the evening of Monday 21 August 2006 for example, we learn that: "Evening free for conversations, orientation and rest". Does one have to do all three, or can one do but two? Does one have to do them in order or can one go a bit mad and do them out of sequence?

Even more amusing is the agenda for Thursday 24 August 2006 when after lunch there is a "Free period for rest or shopping". What if one wants to nip down to the Bird and Baby for a pint? Would that be frowned upon do you think?

It would have to be specified as a 'pint opportunity' in the timetable!

This made me laugh too. It reminded me of the Shearings Coach Holiday brochures my retired parents get which feature over-regimented four day breaks in Bournemouth and detail every last activity down to the minute. I have a natural aversion to being herded about and would somehow find myself unable to resist breaking the rules and rebelling by perhaps being five minutes late for breakfast or something.

Exeter College are maybe cashing in by ripping off the people organising this - you used to be able to stay there for £5 a night, dinner being £1.50 extra. I suspect that whenever the magic word 'Tolkien' is uttered in Oxford college deans' eyes light up with little pound signs in front of them.

04-19-2006, 06:12 AM	#1
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	Well the premium bond did come up yesterday but only to the tune of £100 - which was nevertheless and appreciated windfall, particularly since I had assumed the nasty brown envelope from up north was from the Inland Revenue. Not enough to make a difference to the conference. So I thinkI will spend it on shoes ...and maybe a chocolate fountain ... __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

04-30-2006, 03:22 PM	#2
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	I attended a German Tolkien Society seminar last weekend which featured several lectures by experts I'd already heard last year in Birmingham. I very much enjoyed it, especially as I'd already decided that the Oxford conference is not on my agenda this year. I asked the other participants, and the general consensus was: it's too expensive, and after Birmingham last year, we really don't need to go to something similar so soon. I wonder how well it will be attended... __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

05-02-2006, 01:32 AM	#3
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	I cannot believe the pricetag on this! Either they are putting people up at luxury digs, or someone has to be making money on this. Or perhaps they are paying all the speakers huge stipends? __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

05-02-2006, 06:00 AM	#4
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,461	My guess is they only want serious academics who will be funded by their departments not the lay enthusiasts...... Of course a more select gathering pushes the price up.....and Oxford is generally a lot pricier than Brum __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

05-02-2006, 08:09 AM	#5
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	They had another Conference a couple of years back - 'Landscapes with Angels' - about fantasy literature, with a focus on Tolkien & Chesterton & the talks from that have been published as a special edition of the Chesterton Review, so I'm assuming the same will occur with this one. Its available as a single issue here http://www.isi.org/journals/chesterton_review.html And for anyone who didn't make it to Birmingham last year the Tolkien Society are due to publish the talks from that either later this year or next. __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects." Last edited by davem; 05-02-2006 at 08:14 AM.

05-02-2006, 10:57 AM	#6
Fordim Hedgethistle Gibbering Gibbet Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Beyond cloud nine Posts: 1,844	The program for that conference is quite wonderfully funny. On the evening of Monday 21 August 2006 for example, we learn that: "Evening free for conversations, orientation and rest". Does one have to do all three, or can one do but two? Does one have to do them in order or can one go a bit mad and do them out of sequence? Even more amusing is the agenda for Thursday 24 August 2006 when after lunch there is a "Free period for rest or shopping". What if one wants to nip down to the Bird and Baby for a pint? Would that be frowned upon do you think? From the looks of this thing, it is not something from which hoi polloi is being excluded -- quite the reverse! From the price tag, the lack of multiple offerings, the speakers list, the special guests, the paper topics and the location I assume that this is being put on specifically for Tolkien Fans of Means who don't mind dropping a bundle on a fab week walking in the professor's footsteps. I can assure you all that there are very very VERY few academics out there fortunate enough to work for institutions who would be willing to shell out that much money for a conference! __________________ Scribbling scrabbling.