Tolkien Around the World
Signum University invites you to join us on 11 October for Middle Moot 2025. This hybrid event will take place at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa. For our Midwestern return, this year we cordially invite one and all with our theme, “Tolkien Around the World”.
Embark on a scholarly odyssey across continents and cultures with our Middle Moot theme of “Tolkien Around the World”. We invite you to explore the boundless reach of J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendarium as it transcends linguistic borders, cultural contexts, and geographical horizons. From the nuances of translating Tolkien’s invented languages and archaic English into dozens of tongues, to the adaptation of his myths in film, art, music, and theatre from Japan to Brazil, Nigeria to Iceland, we invite you to examine how Middle-earth has been, and continues to be, reimagined. How do diverse cultures uniquely embrace or reshape Tolkien’s themes of heroism, ecology, or faith? Proposals might investigate Tolkien’s own engagement with global mythologies (beyond his well-known Northern roots), comparative studies of Middle-earth alongside non-Western epics, postcolonial readings of his work, or the vibrant tapestry of international fandom be it fan fiction, academic scholarship, cosplay communities, or pilgrimage sites like New Zealand’s filming locations. At Middle Moot, we will celebrate Tolkien not as a solely English icon, but as a global phenomenon, fostering dialogue on how his stories resonate uniquely within different societies and how they spark cross-cultural conversations about tradition, modernity, and the universal power of myth. Join us to map the ever-expanding influence of Middle-earth and contribute your unique perspective as presenter or attendee to this worldwide fellowship of scholarship and appreciation.
Register Here for Middle Moot!
Price: $50.00 USD for in-person attendance, $25.00 USD for remote attendance
The Middle Moot Team is accepting proposals for creative presentations, academic papers, workshops, or discussion panels on our theme of “Tolkien Around the World” We invite presentations in person at the event and from remote attendees. Our Call for Proposals closes on 10 September.
Please note that a conference theme helps tie the day together and optimize fun, and we welcome anyone to respond to the Call for Proposals. Our moots are supportive environments for practicing or developing your presentation skills regardless of your experience.
