21st Century Tolkien

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Hookbill

The more dedicated fans of Tolkien will most certainly continue! I know that the lecturer I will have the pleaser of being taught by next year at University is a Tolkien fan and scholar. I shall first have to discover his opinion on wings...

Are you going to Central Lancashire?

I wonder if, after all the hype of the films, we are soon due for a period again when Tolkien will once more be unfashionable as his work seemed to be during the 80s, which followed the initial fandom of the 60s/70s. We are still in the post-film period where other fantasy films are being made and marketed, as they will for a few more years as the LOTR films have stirred a thirst for such films, but as the quality of these films inevitably declines, will the currently high star of fantasy fall a little?

I know that one of the big LOTR film fan conventions was cancelled last year, as interest was lower than expected. Yet last year we had Tolkien 2005 and now Tolkien's Oxford, the fabulously expensive convention run by Second Spring. Of course, Oxonmoot continues as ever. Is it that the fandom has now matured as those who loved the films have moved on to the books?

I think that sites such as the Downs have helped foster a deeper interest in the books, and in pursuing questons at a more in depth level. Had the Internet not existed during the period the films were out I wonder whether fans would have found as many ways to form communities? Its the community aspect that keeps us going and maintains our interest. Just when you think there is nothing more that is new to say, someone comes out with a good point or challenging theory. Without the net we would never have that.

Is Tolkien fandom being kept going and increased by the Internet alone?