This eight-week course will guide participants through the ‘Perilous Realm’ of myth and fairy-story. Guided by J.R.R. Tolkien's influential essay ‘On Fairy-stories,' we will explore the origins and functions of fairy-stories and fantasy literature in human societies and discuss the key themes, ideas, and arguments presented by Tolkien in what is functionally his ‘manifesto’ for mythopoeia.
Presented by Erik Jampa Andersson, MA, author of Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), this course will also examine the importance of ‘natural enchantment’ on the path to ecological recovery, and the ways that engaging with myth and fantasy can help us better understand what it means to be human in a more-than-human world.
Each two-hour class includes a lecture and seminar discussion, complemented by curated reading assignments. While focused largely on Tolkien’s scholarship and creative legacy, this course will cover a wide range of topics, including:
The history of fairy-stories and myth.
The psychological, sociological, and philosophical functions of fantasy.
‘Fairy faith’ and re-enchantment in the Industrial Era.
Ecocritical approaches to fantasy literature.
‘Nature spirits’ and animism.
The complex relationship between mythology and religion.
The storyteller as a philosopher.
The virtues of escapism.
‘Recovery’ as a path.
This is naturally an excellent course for those who wish to deepen their understanding of Tolkien’s work, but it is equally valuable for those who are simply interested in the profundity and potency of storytelling. It is likely that storytelling holds the key to a brighter future, and our path of recovery (should we choose to take it) runs straight to the heart of our enchanted and perilous Earth.
Course Structure
Classes will take place at the following dates/times:
June 6th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
June 13th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
June 20th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
June 27th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
July 4th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
July 11th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
July 18th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
July 25th - 16:00-18:00 British Time (08:00 PT, 11:00 ET)
All lectures will be recorded and available for participants to stream for one year after enrolment, while seminar discussions will only be accessible live.
Required Text
Tolkien On Fairy-Stories: Expanded edition, with commentary and notes, edited by Verlyn Flieger and Douglas A. Anderson.
About Erik Jampa Andersson
Erik has been reading Tolkien for nearly 25 years, and has presented multiple papers for The Tolkien Society on topics including ‘Akallabêth and the Anthropocene’ and ‘Tolkien, Revelation, and the Tibetan Treasure Tradition.’ His first book, Unseen Beings: How We Forgot the World is More Than Human (Hay House UK, 2023), explores the historical roots of anthropocentric instrumentalism, and posits that animistic re-enchantment is essential for our ecological recovery. Erik holds an MA in History from Goldsmiths, University of London, and specialises in environmental history, Tibetology, religion, and the medical humanities. Much of his current research focuses on ‘eco-daemonology’ (‘nature spirit’ paradigms) and the incorporation of animistic paradigms into the conceptualisation of ecocide.