Exploring Tolkien

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Exploring Tolkien episodes

August 22, 2023 65. Escape Isn’t Possible with “Modern” Storytelling – On Fairy Stories, Part 5
What are we supposed to recover from? And why do fairy stories provide it? And why do we need to escape? And how do fairy stories break us out?
1 hr
August 15, 2023 64. Movies are NOT Sub-Creation – On Fairy Stories, Part 4
When Tolkien talks about Fantasy, he doesn't simply mean fiction stories set in sword-and-sorcery worlds.
1 hr 9 min
August 08, 2023 63. Kids Ruin Everything – On Fairy Stories, Part 3
Tolkien pushes back against the coupling of fairy-stories and children! True fairy-story is where literary belief and subcreation are fully realized.
53 min
August 01, 2023 62. Tolkien Still Matters : with Nick Groom, author of Tolkien in the 21st Century
This week Michael and I talked with Professor Nick Groom, author of Tolkien in the 21st Century and discuss why Tolkien still matters!
1 hr 24 min
July 25, 2023 61. An Interview with Peter Jackson : It’s for the fans!
On December 2, 2003 I was part of a roundtable interview with Peter Jackson. Here's the full recording!
29 min
July 18, 2023 60. The Origins of Fantasy – A Soup with Distance and Time: On Fairy Stories, Part 2
The origins of fairy story are hard to define... and though it may feel like Tolkien doesn't give us an answer, he gives us some good starting points.
47 min
July 11, 2023 59. Talking Tolkien with Renowned Artist Ted Nasmith
Ted Nasmith has been creating visions of Middle-earth since the early 1970s when he decided to send JRR Tolkien one of his early pieces--and the professor responded with encouragement! In addition to being the sole featured artist in 12 Tolkien calendars (2022 most recently), he worked closely with Christopher Tolkien to create the incredible illustrated Silmarillion in 1998.
Michael and I had the privilege of discussing not just his inspiration and visions of Tolkien, but also:
What kinds of paintings are the greatest challenge?
Why he wasn't involved in Peter Jackson's films --and what he thinks of them!
How will AI art impact artists like him?
Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:
Which place in Middle-earth inspires him most?
What art styles inspire him?
Who is HIS favorite Middle-earth artist?
What's his take on upcoming War of the Rohirrim Film?
And our infamous Confessions from the Comfy Chair, including:
What level of Dante's Hell does The Rings of Power belong in?
What's the nerdiest thing he's ever done?
Who is his favorite Tolkien character?
What cheesy movie or book does he like?
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
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Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
TedNasmith.com
Illustrated Silmarillion
Ted's Book Recommendation - World without Mind by Franklin Foer
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!
48 min
July 04, 2023 58. Is Star Wars a Fairy Story? – On Fairy Stories, Part 1
This week, Michael, Dan, and I discuss the first part of Tolkien's seminal essay "On Fairy Stories", where Tolkien defines what a fairy (aka fantasy) story is.
Why is this important? Well, the "fairy tale" in Tolkien's era was relegated to simple children's fiction, something adults grew out of along with their innocence and naiveté. But to Tolkien, these stories that take place in the land of Faërie contain more beauty and truths than any tale set in modern day environs.
In this essay Tolkien defines these stories by what they have, and what they are not, not precisely by what they ARE. And we even jump into whether Star Wars or Star Trek might match Tolkien's definition!
Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we:
Discuss what our favorite fairy story is (other than LOTR)
Try and figure out what the best fairy story of the last 2 decades is (or if there even IS one!)
🎉 To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
Tales from the Perilous Realm ("On Fairy Stories")
Make Tolkien Great Again - Tengwar Hat
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
🖼 Special Thanks to Anna Grumbine for the artwork!
53 min
June 27, 2023 57. This is the (raw) Meat – The Silmarillion – A Final Look – The Silmarillion – 37
High beauty, strong women, and the meat of Middle-earth!
1 hr 3 min
June 20, 2023 56. Make Tolkien Great Again – Of the Rings of Power, Part 2 – The Silmarillion – 36
** Use the code "GREAT" at https://shop.theonering.com to get $2 off anything! **
It's hard to believe, but this week we finish "Of the Rings of Power and the Third Age"--the last chapter of The Silmarillion!
We talk about the the truth and beauty of Middle-earth (and how we're not connected to it), how Peter Jackson portrayed the battle between Gil-Galad, Elendil, and Sauron poorly, and Saruman's mysterious visit to the east--after which he took up residence in Orthanc and started his evil turn.
Then, join us in our extended episode (https://theonering.com/members) where we discuss if Isildur just took the glory over Elendil and Gil-Galad when they defeated Sauron, why Tolkien mentioned Frodo's destruction of the differently in The Silmarillion, and whether Sauron should've bribed the Dwarves with gold (since the Rings of Power didn't sway them a bit). To get the extended episode, become a member at https://theonering.com/members ($4/mo and free for the 1st month)!
📕 Join our Book Club! Become a member and join our bi-weekly Book Club where we're reading through Taliesin by Stephen R. Lawhead.
BECOME A MEMBER!
Get access to the extended edition of this podcast, our private Discord chat, and live chats. Click here!
🔗 Episode Links
The One Ring Shop
Make Tolkien Great Again
🎧 Subscribe to our Podcast
Get the Extended Podcast
Subscribe on Apple
Subscribe on Google
🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The Silmarillion
The Fall of Númenor
The Fall of Gondolin
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
🗣 Special Thanks to Austin Robertson for the use of his voice!
1 hr 7 min

About Exploring Tolkien

From the publisher's feed

The bi-weekly podcast for serious Tolkien fans. Hosts Jonathan Watson and Michael Grumbine of TheOneRing.com (the internet’s longest Tolkien community since 1999) read through The Hobbit, The Lord of…