Contests
Essay- Tolkein and the Middle Ages
Essay- The Middle Ages and Pop Culture
Panel I: Tolkien and the Middle Ages
As part of the first annual Marco madness, we are holding a panel on the influence of the history, art, and literature of the Middle Ages on the fantasy world of J.R.R. Tolkien. To participate on this panel, please submit a short (~3 page) paper on some element of overlap between the Middle Ages and Tolkien.
Questions you may ask include, but are not limited to, the following:
-What specific cultures/civilizations of Middle Earth are inspired by medieval cultures/civilizations?
-What literary elements of Tolkien’s work draw on medieval literature?
-How do elements of the Lord of the Rings movies (architecture, costumes) correspond to the visual world of the Middle Ages?
You must submit your paper to the moderator, Stefan Hodges-Kluck (shodgesk@vols.utk.edu) NO LATER THAN March 11, 2015 at 5:00 PM. The top four papers will be selected to participate on a 45-minute panel as part of Marco Madness on April 2.
For any additional questions, please contact Stefan Hodges-Kluck at the email above.
Panel II: The Middle Ages and Pop Culture
With Game of Thrones, Vikings, and even the new Shannara on all our screens, it seems like the Middle Ages are having a resurgence in today’s popular culture. With an eye towards books, comics, film, and television, this panel seeks to explore why the modern is getting so medieval!
Questions you may ask include, but are not limited to, the following:
-After Harry Potter, where do you see influences from the Middle Ages on YA fiction?
-The gritty realism of Game of Thrones and the fun anachronism of A Knight’s Tale both pull influences from 14th century England--why is the medieval so easily adapted in such wildly different ways?
-How does science fiction adopt elements from the Middle Ages?
Essay submissions due by 5:00 PM, March 11th
Email your submissions and any questions to Scott Bevill (rbevill@vols.utk.edu) with Marco Madness and the name of your panel in the subject line. The top four papers will be selected to participate on a 45-minute panel as part of Marco Madness on April 2.
Costume-
Latin Dramatic Reading-
Have a Medieval costume? Bring it! The winner shall be declared costume King or Queen for the rest of the day.
Participants will deliver a specific passage of Latin with correct pronunciation and syllabic stress.