‘The Same Tale Still’: The Intersection of Personal Experience With History and Storytelling
Signum University invites you to join us on 15 March for SoCal Moot 2025. This hybrid event will occur at the Carlsbad City Library in Carlsbad, CA. For our return to the West Coast, we invite you to join us in considering ‘The Same Tale Still’: The Intersection of Personal Experience With History and Storytelling.
Register Here for SoCal Moot
Price: $50.00 USD for in-person attendance, $25.00 USD for remote attendance
“And why, sir, I never thought of that before! We’ve got – you’ve got some of the light of it in that star-glass that the Lady gave you! Why, to think of it, we’re in the same tale still! It’s going on. Don’t the great tales never end?”
“No, they never end as tales,” said Frodo. “But the people in them come, and go when their part’s ended.” – J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
In The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien offers a compelling reflection on the nexus of individual experience, history, and storytelling, epitomized in Samwise Gamgee’s musings on “the Great Tales”. Sam’s thoughts reveal a deep engagement with the idea that personal trials and triumphs form part of a larger narrative stretching back to the mythic and historical past, suggesting that each life contributes uniquely to a shared, ever-unfolding “same tale.”
At SoCal Moot 2025, we will explore how Tolkien’s thematic alignment of history and storytelling reinforces the notion that each person is part of an ongoing, collective narrative and can find a sense of purpose and continuity by participating in these “same tales”, ultimately inviting a conversation about the role of literature and myth in shaping our perception of identity and legacy.
Submit Your Presentation Proposal Here
The SoCal Moot team is accepting proposals for creative presentations, academic papers, workshops, and discussion panels on the theme of “The Intersection of Personal Experience With History and Storytelling”. Presentations can be delivered in-person at the event or remotely from your location. Our Call for Proposals will close on 15 February.
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.
