A New Hope: Estel and Optimism in Speculative Fiction
Signum University and the Mythgard Institute invite you to join us on Saturday, May 4, 2024, for SoCal Moot 2024. This hybrid event will take place at the Carlsbad City Library in Carlsbad, CA, as we consider this year’s theme, “A New Hope: Estel and Optimism in Speculative Fiction”.
The worlds of speculative fiction often mirror the human condition, offering a canvas for exploring profound themes. SoCal Moot invites you to explore the theme of Hope, showcasing its adaptive nature across diverse storytelling landscapes.
Estel, a term rooted in the language of J.R.R. Tolkien, embodies hope, trust, and belief in a brighter future. SoCal Moot will focus on Tolkien’s concept of providential Hope and extend it to varied speculative fiction narratives. By examining the portrayal of Hope through many lenses, we seek to provoke thoughtful reflections on Hope’s enduring power of optimism and its profound impact on both fictional worlds and our reality.
Come with us and embark on a thought-provoking journey through the realms of fiction, illuminating the ever-relevant messages of hope and optimism and their transformative impact on the human spirit.
What: SoCal Moot, “A New Hope: Estel and Optimism in Speculative Fiction”
When: May 4, 2024 – 10:ooam to 4:30pm Pacific Daylight Time
Where: Carlsbad City Library, Gowland Room, 1775 Dove Ln, Carlsbad, CA 92011
Price: $50.00 for in-person attendance, $25.00 for remote attendance
Schedule of Events (all times local to Carlsbad – Pacific Time)
10:00 – 10:15am: Greetings and Welcome with Corey Olsen
10:15 – 10:55am: Hope as a Sub-virtue of Spiritual Diligence and its Manifestation in “The Lord of the Rings” with Martina Juričková
10:55 – 11:35am: The Hidden Enemy: A Study of How Sauron is Portrayed in the Lord of the Rings with Jim Gillispie
11:35 – 11:45am: Ten-minute Break
11:45am – 12:25pm: Hope After It All Comes Down: What We Learn From Earth Abides and Station Eleven with Karen Switzer
12:25 – 1:45pm: Lunch Break
1:45 – 3:15pm: SoCal Moot Keynote Address with Corey Olsen
3:15 – 3:25pm: Ten-minute Break
3:25 – 4:05pm: Middle-earth Memos from Mithrandir with Jennifer Mellow
4:05 – 4:30pm: “In Western Lands” and “Oh, Rosie” – Two Hopeful Musical Performances with Charlie Vaughn
