In the lecture series Film Myths and Facts we explore how modern literature and cinema portray historical figures and events, religious motifs and ancient myths from different periods and cultures. We also examine new ideas about the end of the world and humanity's future, increasingly described as modern myths.
Young specialists whose professional interests relate to the topics under discussion will guide us through the films. Their talks will be accompanied by audiovisual material.
16 April 2018 at 19:00, Kino Úsmev
Film Myths and Facts – Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings
What do The Lord of the Rings, opera and linguistics have in common? The first lecture, approaching the topic primarily through religious studies, examines possible sources of inspiration for J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien was a writer and poet, but above all a philologist and professor of Old English language and literature at Oxford. His academic specialism strongly influenced his fiction, particularly its references to the myths and languages of ancientGermanic peoples. Motifs such as a magical ring or a fight with a dragon also appear in classical mythology. The lecture will be delivered by Mgr. Tatiana Votroubeková.
The second lecture, with a historical and archaeological focus, considers what archaeology and Tolkien's work have in common. When creating the fantasy world of Middle-earth, did Tolkien work like historians and archaeologists, gradually piecing together the lives of people in the past through archaeological discoveries, scientific methods and historical accounts, effectively reconstructing ancient worlds? The lecture will be delivered by Mgr. Pavol Jelínek, PhD.
ADMISSION: €3
The programme Viera v živote (Faith in Life) on Rádio Regina on 2 June 2018 broadcast a recorded interview with Mgr. Tatiana Votroubeková, a CEREHIS member, about the Film Myths and Facts lecture series, particularly its first lecture on J. R. R. Tolkien and his work.
On 13 May 2018, the programme Krajina duše (Landscape of the Soul) on Rádio Devín featured Mgr. Tatiana Votroubeková discussing J. R. R. Tolkien, a topic from the Film Myths and Facts series.