ZfF-Forum 2023: Zur Beantwortung der Frage, ob es nicht Zeit ist, mit der Tolkienforschung abzuschließen

Abstract

2023 is the year that marked the fiftieth anniversary of J. R. R. Tolkien’s death. The commemoration of an author whose influence has dominated an entire genre in an unprecedented way, and thus generated an equally unprecedented amount of studies and research literature, is an occasion to consider whether the observed concentration on one writer and his work has maybe becoming excessive. Which poses the question whether it would perhaps be better if studies of fantasy in particular, as well as the fantastic in general, in a way detached themselves from Tolkien studies.