Mythopoeic Society Conference XXXIV
Nashville, Tennessee
25-28 July 2003
From Athena to Galadriel: The Image of the Wise Woman in Mythopoeic Fiction.
Author Guest of Honor: Sherwood Smith
Scholar Guest of Honor: Dabney Hart
Wisdom, both rational and intuitive, has often been symbolized by feminine figures, from Pallas Athene down to George MacDonald's goddess-figures; Charles Williams' Sibyl Coningsby; Tolkien's Galadriel; Lewis's Psyche; and many others. What roles and functions do the "wise women" play in mythopoeic fiction? Why do (mythopoeic) writers often personify wisdom as feminine?
The Mythopoeic Society is an international literary and educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and mythopoeic literature. We believe the study of these writers can lead to greater understanding and appreciation of the literary, philosophical, and spiritual traditions which underlie their works, and can engender an interest in the study of myth, legend, and the genre of fantasy. Find out more about the Society and previous Mythcons at http://www.mythsoc.org/.
Papers dealing with the conference theme are especially encouraged; we also welcome papers focusing on the work and interests of our Guests of Honor, the Inklings (especially Tolkien, Lewis, and Williams), and other fantasy authors and themes. Papers from a variety of critical perspectives and disciplines are welcome.
Individual papers should be suitable for oral presentation within 20 to 30 minutes. Papers chosen for presentation at the conference will be considered for publication in Mythlore, the refereed journal of the Mythopoeic Society (http://www.mythsoc.org/mythlore.html). All papers should conform to the MLA
Style Manual (2nd ed).
Paper abstracts (250 word maximum), along with contact information, should be sent to the Papers Coordinator at the following address (e-mail is preferable) by 31 March, 2003. Please include your AV requests and the projected time needed for your presentation.
Dr. Theodore J. Sherman, Editor
Mythlore: A Journal of J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and
Mythopoeic Literature
Associate Professor of English
Box X041, Middle Tennessee State University
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
615 898-5098 FAX
tsherman@mtsu.edu
tedsherman@comcast.net