"References to Sources in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien" by Dawn Felagund (WiP) *AND* A Poll!

[dawn_felagund]

B2MeM Prompt and Path: Compile a List of Sources on a Specific Topic (orange path)
Format: Resource List
Genre: Resource
Rating: General
Warnings: Do not read while driving or operating heavy machinery.
Characters: n/a
Pairings: n/a
Creator's Notes: This is a WiP that may take years to finish. I decided to share it when I reached the midway point of The Silmarillion. Only a dozen-and-a-half more books to go!
Summary: For this prompt, I have decided to begin a project I have wanted to begin for a long time: make a list of every reference to fictional sources or lore or loremasters in Tolkien's works. This is for my own research on historiography and historical bias in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, but I've opted to make it public so that others interested in this topic can benefit as well from my work.

References to Sources in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien

The next topic on the orange path is "Meta on Fandom." As some of you know, I ran a survey on Tolkien fan fiction a little over a year ago, and I have all this untouched data just begging to be crunched and written about. Only since this is B2MeM and not the indulgence of my own blog, I'd like to write about something maybe interesting to people reading here? So if you have an opinion on what I should write about, please feel free to choose from the topics below!

ETA: Readers and feedback it is! Thanks, everyone! /ETA

[Poll #2064889]

Comments

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

"But someone might say something smart about it before you get the chance to."

I don't think that is a worry for you. You are always the first and smartest with any of this Tolkien scholarship stuff in our fandom circles.

I am excited, because that is exactly the kind of thing that I want to know, but makes my eyes cross when I try to follow it on my own without help.

[dawn_felagund]

That's kind of you to say--thank you. :) I have to teach myself not to care in any case. I'm actually pretty good at it but was still raised in the culture I was, so that whisper is still there sometimes.

makes my eyes cross when I try to follow it on my own without help.

It is very tiring close reading! I'm sure I've missed a few already (currently trying to finish the "Beren and Luthien" chapter before going out on a date with a handsome bearded guy in an hour). But I'm already seeing patterns that are interesting in light of some of my hypotheses. That's exciting and definitely motivates me to come in here and chip away at it a little every day. I want to be finished with the Silm in plenty of time for the UVM conference.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

But I'm already seeing patterns that are interesting in light of some of my hypotheses. That's exciting and definitely motivates me to come in here and chip away at it a little every day. I want to be finished with the Silm in plenty of time for the UVM conference.

Groundbreaking! I am sure it will be interesting. I wish it were ten years ago and I knew what I know now! I would never have been so bullied in this fandom! I knew a lot of things in my guts, from years of reading and studying literature and close textual analysis in other areas of life, but could only sputter when people told me what was received-knowledge within the fandom at the time.

[dawn_felagund]

I hope so! I could be completely disproved in the second half of the book. :D

I allowed myself to be talked into things back in the day by fans with more social capital than me that now make me want to facepalm. (Thankfully, little of it touched my stories--possibly an advantage of working without a beta!--and I am still proud that I resisted labeling AMC as an AU. ;) But we have the future ahead of us to do good work in! (Sorry--I am pie-eyed today even in excess of my usual self. I did 7 km cross-country skiing this morning and think I'm still on the endorphin come-down!)

Would you mind reading over whatever I come up with for UVM? You know I trust your opinion more than anyone's, and you're more familiar with this topic than anyone too. I have 20 minutes, so it won't be long, whatever I end up doing.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I'd be thrilled to read it. Whenever you get anything. It does not have to be finished/final. You can bounce drafts off of me also. Inquiring minds want to know...

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! I may shoot you an email later tonight. Bobby just said, "It's about that time, darlin'!" so I'm about to dash. I'm not sure what time I'll be home, but if I get online again, I'll send you some early thoughts!