Universität Wien

030713 KU Law and Literature: Law, Government, and Society in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Works (2023W)

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 3 - Rechtswissenschaften
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 30 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

Mittwoch 11.10. 11:30 - 12:30 Digital (Vorbesprechung)
Montag 23.10. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Dienstag 24.10. 12:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum SEM62 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Mittwoch 25.10. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM63 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Montag 06.11. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM64 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Dienstag 07.11. 12:00 - 15:00 Seminarraum SEM63 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG
Mittwoch 08.11. 09:00 - 12:00 Seminarraum SEM64 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum 6.OG

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Law and Literature have been fellow travelers for a long time. Since James Boyd White published The Legal Imagination in 1973, a huge amount of research has been done by scholars with many different backgrounds and many different goals. Shakespeare and Cervantes are the leading focus of attention in English- and Spanish-speaking academia, of course. Authors such as Dostoevsky, Balzac, Kafka or Steinbeck, among others, have already received attention. This course will bring the issue to the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. Readings and discussions will be proposed in every session.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

The assessment is based on three partial performances:
1. Active participation in class
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book
All materials are permitted, as the Seminar will have a practical focus on the use of regulations and case law.

Students should have, at least, a proper knowledge of J.R.R. Tolkien’s works and also some notions of 20th century literary corpus. In the final session, every student will be asked to present orally some ideas about an author of their choice according to the methodology employed in the course.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

Attendance is compulsory. Students may miss no more than one class (with apologies for important reasons two classes). Attendance in the first lesson is absolutely necessary otherwise the spot will be given to students on the waiting list (exceptions can be made for important reasons with prior excuse).

1. Active participation in class (30 %)
2. Questionnaires in Moodle / Kahoot during sessions (20 %)
3. Short presentation of a legal analysis of a book or a short story of the students’ choice on the last day of the course (50 %)

For a positive assessment of the course, attendance and the achievement of 50,5 % of the assessment criteria are necessary.

Prüfungsstoff

1. Law and Literature: an introduction
2. Fantasy, Science-fiction and Law
3. J.R.R. Tolkien: author and theorist
4. Law as a “Green Sun”
5. A vision of Government: the man and the books
6. Medieval traits in Tolkien’s societies and paradoxes
7. Law as tool for humour

Literatur

Basic bibliography:

Miranda Boto, JM. 2022. Law, Government and Society in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Works. Zurich-Jena: Walking Tree

Additional bibliography

Breda, J. H. v. 2015. “The Mercy and Justice of the King”. In Lembas Extra, edition 2015. Unexplored aspects of Tolkien and Arda. Soest: Boekscout.nl, 121-166
Cilli, Oronzo. 2019. Tolkien’s Library. An annotated checklist. Edinburgh: Luna Press Publishing
Carpenter, H. 2000. J.R.R. Tolkien. A biography. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.
Duong, Wendy Nicole. 2005. “Law is Law and Art is Art and Shall the Two Ever Meet? Law and Literature: the Comparative Creative Processes”. Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal 15, 1 (2005)
Fimi, Dimitra. 2009. Tolkien, Race and Cultural History. From Fairies to Hobbits. London: Palgrave MacMillan
Ford, Judy Ann. 2005. “The White City: The Lord of the Rings as an Early Medieval Myth of the Restoration of the Roman Empire”. Tolkien Studies 2 (2005): 53-73
Garth, John. 2004. Tolkien and the Great War. London: Harper Collins
Hammond, Wayne G. and Christina Scull. 2014. The Lord of the Rings. A Reader’s Companion. London: Harper Collins
Kane, Douglas C. 2012. “Law and Arda”. Tolkien Studies 9 (2012): 37-57
Nardi, Dominic J. Jr. 2014. “Political Institutions in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth: Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying About the Lack of Democracy”. Mythlore 33, 1 (2014): 101-123
Shippey, Tom. 2001. J.R.R. Tolkien. Author of the Century. London: Harper Collins

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Mo 02.10.2023 10:07