Signum University

Mythmoot VIII: The World Ahead (2021)

Mythmoot VIII: The World Ahead, June 24-27, 2021

“Home is behind, the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread”

—J. R. R. Tolkien

In August 2020, to support our first fully remote Mythmoot, we introduced MootHub, a new virtual conference experience. This year, with a vaccine available and the world beginning to open back up we are hosting a hybrid event. MootHub is available, but most events will also have a live component as well for those who are able and willing to travel to the NCC in Virginia. MootHub is available in full to all LIVE participants so that participants can keep in touch throughout Mythmoot regardless of where they are participating from.

Mythmoot VIII Special Guests

Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas

 A former Detroit Public Schools teacher and National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow, she is a former chair of the NCTE Standing Committee on Research, and served on the 2020 National Book Awards Young People’s Literature judges’ panel. Authored the World Fantasy Award winning book, The Dark Fantastic

Dr. Thomas is presenting Friday morning at 11am.

Carl Hostetter

The editor of Vinyar Tengwar, a journal of the Elvish Linguistic Fellowship, and a member of a team of editors appointed by Christopher Tolkien to edit and publish his father’s linguistic papers, chiefly in the journal Parma Eldalamberon. He is also the editor of the forthcoming Nature of Middle-earth.

Mr. Hostetter is presenting Friday afternoon at 1pm.

Dr. Brenton Dickieson

A lecturer and preceptor at Signum University since 2016. As a teacher and writer of popular and academic nonfiction, and as curator of the digital sandbox, A Pilgrim in Narnia, Brenton has written or edited more than 1,100 articles. As a theologian of literature, Brenton is intrigued by the ways that authors construct their speculative worlds and infuse them with meaning.

Dr. Dickieson is presenting Saturday morning at 11am, and has a Q&A session Friday at 7pm.

Kyle Latino

Kyle Latino is a cartoonist and illustrator from Indianapolis. He has appeared in the pages of comics such as Fresh Romance, Rolled & Told, Outlaw Territories, and many self published projects. When he is not at the drawing desk or teaching classes at Herron School of Art, Kyle often wishes he was running a Tabletop Roleplaying Game.

Mr. Latino is presenting Saturday afternoon at 1pm and running a workshop Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm.

Mythmoot VIII Schedule

Thursday, June 24, 2021

  • 1om – Registration Opens for Live Attendees
  • 5pm – Meet and Greet
  • 7pm – Pub Trivia
  • 9:15 – Mythmoot Tour with Corey Olsen and Alan Sisto

Friday, June 25, 2021

  • 8:00am – Breakfast / Gentle Yoga with Sørina (*not a certified yoga instructor)
  • 9:30am – Official Welcome Orientation AKA “How this Hybrid Moot Works” with Corey Olsen
  • 10:30am – Break
  • 11am – Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, “Beyond The Dark Fantastic – Imagining Inclusive Myths”
  • 12pm – Lunch and a Literary Amuse-Bouche, “How Other Worlds Teach Us to Care for This One” with Dr. Brenton Dickieson and Sørina Higgins
  • 1pm – Carl Hostetter, “Well, How Did I Get Here?”
  • 2pm – Guest of Honor Panel
  • 3pm – Break
  • 3:30pm – Thesis Panel
  • 4:30pm – Presentations
  • 6pm – Dinner
  • 7pm – Lord of the Rings Online Run with Dr. Corey Olsen
  • 7pm – SilmFilm Casting
  • 7pm – Dr. Brenton Dickieson Q&A
  • 7:30pm – Birds of a Feather Session: “Was Roger Ebert wrong? Are video games capable of great storytelling?”
  • 9pm – Birds of a Feather Session: “How does magic in literature work, and what does it mean?”
  • 9pm – The One Ring with Richard Rohlin

Saturday, June 26, 2021

  • 8am – Breakfast / Power Yoga with Sørina (*not a certified yoga instructor)
  • 9am – Presentations
  • 10:30am – Break
  • 11am – Keynote: Dr. Brenton Dickieson
  • Noon – Break for Lunch and Discussion with Corey
  • 1pm – Keynote: Kyle Latino, “COMICS: THE STORY IS THE ART”
  • 2pm – Break
  • 2:30pm – Kyle Latino Comics Workshop
  • 3:30pm – Break
  • 4pm – Signum University Graduation Ceremony
  • 6pm – Dinner
  • 7pm – Costume Contest and Open Dance Floor
    • If you want to participate in the Costume Contest email a picture of your costume to [email protected] by 5:30pm EDT on Saturday, June 26th.
  • 7pm – Graduation Rehearsal
  • 8pm – Birds of a Feather Session with Jessi Robinson
  • 9pm – Karate with Corey

Sunday, June 27, 2021

  • 8am – Breakfast / Restorative Yoga with Sørina (*not a certified yoga instructor)
  • 9am – Presentations
  • 11am – SilmFilm Reading
  • Noon – Signum Update Closing Remarks with Dr. Corey Olsen

Looking for more information about Mythmoot? Use our contact form or email [email protected].