Episode 16
Queer Tolkien Anthology Interview with Robin Reid, Chris Vaccaro, and Steve Yandell
Hosts & Guests
Robin Reid
(she or they because "autism" is not a pronoun) retired in 2020 and enjoys working on the scholarship she was too swamped to write while employed. She is currently editing two anthologies, one on Queer approaches to Middle-earth and the other on race, racisms, racists, and Tolkien.
Steve Yandell
(he/him) A Tolkien fan/scholar/teacher at Xavier University (Cincinnati) who loves all medieval + pop culture connections.
Alicia
(she/they) A queer Tolkien scholar and Zelda nerd interested in adaptation, audience reception, and biography.
Grace
(she/her) An acquirer of books, a queer-rights activist, serves as as the Subscriptions Steward of the Mythopoeic Society, and is a Professional Nerd (okay, technically it’s an unpaid internship).
Leah
(she/her) Just another weird Tolkien geek living in the Grey Havens (also known as Seattle WA) with two rabbits and far too few books.
Resources
Conferences
Tolkien Studies Area, PCA/ACA: Schedule of Presentations from 2014
Books
Andrew Wackerfuss, Stormtrooper Families: Homosexuality and Community in the Early Nazi Movement.
Articles
David M. Craig,”‘Queer Lodgings’: Gender and Sexuality in The Lord of the Rings”. Mallorn.
Laurie Marhoefer. “Queer Fascism and the End of Gay History”. Notches.
Robin Reid, “J.R.R. Tolkien, Culture Warrior: The Alt-Right’s Crusade against the Tolkien Society’s 2021 Summer Seminar on ‘Tolkien and Diversity'”. Journal of Tolkien Research.
About This Episode
We have a special treat for you this month – Leah, Alicia, and Grace welcome not one… not two… but three guests! They are the editors of the forthcoming edited anthology ‘”There Are Many Paths to Tread”: Queer Approaches to Tolkien’s Middle-earth’ from McFarland (due to release in 2025), and each is a well-known Tolkien scholar in their own right – Robin Reid, Chris Vaccaro, and Steve Yandell. Join us as we discuss the landscape of Queer and Intersectional Tolkien studies, why they’re important, and what these important and fresh outlooks can contribute to Tolkien scholarship.
Related Episodes
Episode 21 – Queer Readings: Eowyn & Faramir Part 2 – Faramir
We focus on Tolkien’s author insert, Faramir, his gender presentation, & how his softer, non-toxic masculinity compares to Denethor & Boromir
Episode 20 – Queer Readings: Eowyn & Faramir Part 1 – Eowyn
Part 1 of our Eowyn & Faramir series jumps into Eowyn’s complex gender identity & expression, and how she navigates her Rohirric gender role.
Episode 19 – Shire Quick Post – NZ Trip, ‘Something Mighty Queer’ Seminar, and Recent Tolkien Scholarship
Alicia and Tim to recount highlights of their to New Zealand. Then we discuss the upcoming online seminar we’re hosting and some recent Tolkien scholarship.