The Tolkien Professor

Discussions on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and adaptations

About the show

The Tolkien Professor podcast is a series of lectures, discussions, and seminars on the works of J.R.R. Tolkien by Corey Olsen, President of Signum University. All are welcome to enter – even those without any party business!

The Tolkien Professor on social media

Episodes

  • 322: SilmFilm 2-12: Episode 8 – Everybody Loves Fingolfin

    November 6th, 2016  |  2 hrs 25 mins

    By the eighth episode of the season, we are getting ready for a bit of a twist as we prepare for the trial of Melkor and shift towards the real conflict of the season.

  • 321: SilmFilm 2-11: Episode 7 – Spirit of Fire (aka The Silmarillion needs more Rap Battles)

    October 13th, 2016  |  2 hrs 9 mins

    This episode focuses on the Noontide of Valinor, and in particular on the growth in Fëanor’s skill as a master smith, with lots of foreshadowing of him smithing with the red glow of forge-fire on his face.

  • 320: SilmFilm 2-10: Episode 6 – Finwë has a lot of reproductive work to do

    October 13th, 2016  |  2 hrs 20 mins

    In the sixth episode of Season 2, we work out the details of Fëanor’s birth and the death of his mother Miriel, establishing parallels between the two and laying the foundation’s for Fëanor’s doom.

  • 319: SilmFilm 2-09: Episode 5 – The Enemies and The Surfer Elves

    September 12th, 2016  |  2 hrs 19 mins

    In this session, we revisit the Thingol and Melian story, take a hard look at Sauron’s posse, and map out the structure of Season 2, Episode 5, which focuses on the arrival of the Noldor and Vanyar.

  • 318: SilmFilm 2-08: Episode 4 – The Avari (The Unwilling)

    August 30th, 2016  |  2 hrs 7 mins

    In the fourth episode of Season 2, we show the developing power struggle between Gothmog and Mairon, and the return of Lenwë to the Avari.

  • 317: SilmFilm 2-07: Episode 3 - DeGreat DeBate

    August 19th, 2016  |  2 hrs 7 mins

    Episode 3 of Season 2 will focus on the debate amongst the elves about whether to remain in Middle-earth or head over to Valinor.

  • 316: SilmFilm 2-06: Episode 2 – “Don’t Get in the Van, Elwë!”

    August 4th, 2016  |  2 hrs 11 mins

    In the second episode of Season 2, the Elvish ambassadors take a trip to Valinor.

  • 315: SilmFilm 2-05: Episode 1 – Crisis in Cuivienen

    July 25th, 2016  |  2 hrs 1 min

    Discussion and outline of the first episode of Season 2, starting with Arwen’s frame story, which leads into the story of the awakening of the elves on the shores of Cuivienen.

  • 314: SilmFilm 2-04: Linguistics, etc.

    July 11th, 2016  |  2 hrs 15 mins

    Discussion about the linguistics of the Silmarillion, the continuing the Big Picture stuff for Season 2, and the sundering of races, as well as material culture and other markers.

  • 313: SilmFilm 2-03: The Elves

    June 27th, 2016  |  1 hr 53 mins

    Today is the day we talk about the Elves – how they came to be and their divisions.

  • 312: SilmFilm 2-02: Episode Calendar

    June 10th, 2016  |  2 hrs 11 mins

    Deciding on general outline for season 2 – not in detail, as we will map out episode-by-episode plots later.

  • 311: SilmFilm 2-01: Brainstorming

    May 25th, 2016  |  2 hrs 3 mins

    Discussing the big-picture overview of the season, starting with the the awakening of the Elves at Cuivienen (from their point of view) and ending with the Darkening of Valinor.

  • SilmFilm 1-20: Script Outlines

    May 12th, 2016  |  2 hrs 5 mins

    We bring on some additional panelists this week to discuss script outlines and fill in the holes left in our episodic discussions. Guest panelists include Karita Alexander, Brian Fattorini, Nick Palazzo, and Marie Prosser.

  • SilmFilm 1-19: Music

    April 27th, 2016  |  2 hrs 3 mins

    Joining us for a discussion of the musical score is John DiBartolo of the Lonely Mountain Band. We also will listen to clips of proposed character themes from composer Philip Menzies.

  • SilmFilm 1-18: Casting Poll Results and Costuming

    April 16th, 2016  |  2 hrs 29 mins

    We review the results of our casting poll from Session 16 and discuss what we’d like to see our newly cast … uh, cast … wear.

  • SilmFilm 1-17: Envisioning Arda - Sets/Locations

    April 3rd, 2016  |  2 hrs 8 mins

    Following up on our casting conversation, this time we’re talking about how we want things to look. What type of forests should fill Valinor? What architecture styles should we use for the Valar (and the elves who copy them)? What other visual considerations do we need to make?