The Tolkien Professor
by Professor Corey Olsen
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Description
From Sophie Kerr lectures to faculty readings to the immensely popular Tolkien Professor, the Department of English provides a wealth of literary recordings to iTunes U.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
CleanHow to Read Tolkien and Why | -- | 7/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
CleanTook and Baggins | -- | 7/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
CleanThe Ridiculous and the Sublime | -- | 7/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
4 |
CleanAt the Roots of the Mountain | -- | 7/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
5 |
CleanOn Wingless Balrogs and Tom Bombadil | -- | 7/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
6 |
CleanTolkien and the Environment | -- | 7/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
7 |
CleanOn Dragons and Orcs | -- | 7/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
8 |
CleanOn Tolkien's Secondary World | -- | 7/27/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
9 |
CleanRescued in the Wild, By the Wild 1 | -- | 9/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
10 |
CleanRescued in the Wild, By the Wild 2 | -- | 9/2/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
11 |
CleanRescued in the Wild, By the Wild 3 | -- | 9/16/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
12 |
CleanTolkien Chat 1: On Knowledge and Evil | -- | 9/16/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
13 |
CleanTolkien Chat 2: On Masters and Servants | -- | 10/9/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
14 |
CleanAnnouncements: Fall 2009 | -- | 10/9/09 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
15 |
CleanCall-In Office Hours 1 | -- | 1/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
16 |
CleanBilbo Builds His Resume 1 | -- | 1/19/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
17 |
CleanTolkien and Food | -- | 3/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
18 |
CleanMichael Drout Lecture | -- | 4/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
19 |
CleanTolkien Chat 3: On Tragedy and Sorrow | -- | 5/18/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
20 |
CleanTolkien Chat 4: On Metafiction and Philology | -- | 5/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
21 |
CleanTolkien Chat 5: On the Silmarillion | -- | 5/26/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
22 |
CleanQ and A Session 1 | -- | 6/7/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
23 |
CleanCall-In Office Hours 2 | -- | 6/14/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
24 |
CleanTolkien Chat 6: Scott Holbrook-Foust and Eric Singletary | -- | 6/24/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
25 |
CleanCall-In Office Hours 3 | -- | 7/9/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
26 |
CleanQ and A Session 2 | -- | 7/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
|
27 |
CleanKalamazoo 2010 | -- | 7/20/10 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 27 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
Excellent podcast, though episodes are out of order
Ditto to everything JKoepke wrote in his previous review. However, note that episodes sharing the same release date (e.g., 7/2/09 for the first four episodes) cannot be relied upon to play in order. I don't know if there's any way to fix this (I'm not sure how the nuts and bolts of podcasting work), but one easy workaround would be to number each episode by renaming them (e.g., "001: How to Read Tolkien and Why") so that listeners would have a field with which to reliably sort episodes into their intended order.
For more complete content (currently 65 episodes instead of 27), use the podcast version rather than the iTunes U version. (Though the podcast version doesn't order the episodes correctly either.)
Best Tolkien podcast I've found thus far
I can't figure out how to describe how incredible this podcast is. I think I've started this review at least four or five times trying to find a way to portray my enthusiasm for it. If you are looking for a podcast that will give a close, academic look at Tolkien's writings, this is the podcast for you. Corey Olsen does an amazing job taking a closer look at J.R.R. Tolkien's literary works with keen insight and full acceptance of Tolkien's Christian worldview. Olsen is not only a fan of Tolkien's works, but a consummate professor who analyzes and critiques all of Tolkien's writings (from the Silmarillion to Farmer Giles of Ham) in a way that I think Tolkien would approve of. This is not to say that Olsen forsakes the soup for the ox bones, but he examines the elements of the soup in order to greater appreciate Tolkien's brilliance.
Best Tolkien podcast and resource out there
By far and away the best Tolkien podcast and resource out there. Prof. Olsen is a fantastic and engaging lecturer, as well as an natural podcaster. If you are a fan of the Lord of the Rings, of fantasy and swords and sorcery, of fairytales, or of literature in general, you should definitely listen. All his podcasts (the class recordings, Skype call-ins, the Hobbit lecture series, discussions with past students and other academics, etc.) are worthwhile and enjoyable. A must listen, and I recommend you check out his website, too.
