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Luke Shelton, PhD

@lukebshelton.bsky.social
2.6K followers 149 following 418 posts

Tolkien scholar. Creator/Co-host of Tolkien Experience. Editor of Mallorn: The Journal of the Tolkien Society. He/Him linktr.ee/LukeShelton

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Reposted by Luke Shelton, PhD
Clare Moore @clarelmoore.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Apropos something… it’s time to bring back my “Concerning Racism” in Tolkien fandom and scholarship piece: journals.tolkiensociety.org/mallorn/arti...
journals.tolkiensociety.org
Concerning “Concerning Racism and Tolkien” | Mallorn: The Journal of the Tolkien Society
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Andy Serkis has made some very ignorant remarks, and it seems like this blog post may (unfortunately) be relevant again: luke-shelton.com/2022/02/12/w...
luke-shelton.com
Why Calling Tolkien’s Work “A Mythology for England” is Wrong and Misleading
The idea that Tolkien wanted to create a ‘mythology for England’ is still a popular notion among fans, and it needs to be clarified (and, to be frank, popularized) that this is no longer the prevai…
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Athrabeth Podcast @podcast.athrabeth.com · 16/06/2026
Tolkien Society friends- Due to some technical difficulties, Clare let us know that The Big Read is not happening tonight as planned. Please spread the word! See you next time! 💚
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Prof. Dimitra Fimi @dimitrafimi.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Bonus gift: here are the first and last pages of the typescript from Tolkien’s manuscripts shared via an exclusive Telegraph piece yesterday - notice the title in Tolkien’s recognisable hand! (Here’s the Telegraph piece, though behind a paywall: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06...) 3/3
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Prof. Dimitra Fimi @dimitrafimi.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
When @lukebshelton.bsky.social and I commissioned Andoni Cossio and Nelson Goering to write the Oxford Handbook of J.R.R. Tolkien chapter on Tolkien as a scholar, I knew they’d do an amazing job (they did!) But was even happier to find out they made this discovery whilst researching the chapter! 2/3
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Prof. Dimitra Fimi @dimitrafimi.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
NEW TOLKIEN JUST OUT: delighted to see “JRR #Tolkien’s Soul’s Ward: A critical edition of his unpublished translation of the early Middle English homily Sawles Warde” edited by Andoni Cossio and Nelson Goering: academic.oup.com/res/advance-... Chuffed to have played a minor role in this 1/3
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Happy pride month, all!
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Michelle @catfi9ht.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
You can completely uninstall/disable copilot on Windows. Your system and local search will run faster afterward. www.howtogeek.com/how-to-rip-o...
howtogeek.com
Microsoft keeps reinstalling Copilot, so I found a way to rip it out of Windows for good
You can get rid of all those stubborn AI components for better privacy and performance.
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Can people who have read The Lord of the Rings take a second to answer my poll question? This is for a conference presentation I am giving later this month! #Tolkien #LordOfTheRings
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Can people who have read The Lord of the Rings take a second to answer my poll question? This is for a conference presentation I am giving later this month! #Tolkien #LordOfTheRings
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
When Tolkien says that the trees in Lothlorien have 'golden' leaves and 'silver' bark, do you interpret that literally or metaphorically? 1️⃣ Literally (colors are like metal and jewelry) 2️⃣ Metaphorically (colors like yellow and white/grey) 3️⃣ Other (describe with a comment) 📊 Show results
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
Can people who have read Lord of teh Rings take a second to helWhen Tolkien says that the trees in Lothlorien have 'golden' leaves and 'silver' bark, do you interpret that literally or metaphorically? 1️⃣ Literally (like metal and jewelry) 2️⃣ Metaphorically (like yellow and white/grey) 📊 Show results
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
This was a great conversation! Do give it a listen if you want to hear me talk way too much about methodology, haha!
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Nick Polk (he/him) @tolkienpop.substack.com · 03/05/2026
Latest episode of the Tolkien Pop! Podcast just dropped! Got to sit down with @lukebshelton.bsky.social of @tolkiensociety.org to talk about his Tolkien experience, area of research, and his current and future work in Tolkien studies podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
I was recently asked what I think about Stephen Colbert’s announcement that he is going to make a Tolkien movie. Honestly, I don’t mind having more adaptations of LotR available in popular media.
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Okay, I think I may have figured something out (and I am probably pretty late to this realization): the people who comment on news stories with hateful comments are the same people who wanted to be good at riffing on movies like MST3K because they thought it would make them cool.
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Dan Immergluck @danimmergluck.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Brutal.
A WHOLE CIVILIZATION
WILL DIE TONIGHT
My son needs lunch, and I have to put his backpack together, but a whole civilization will die tonight, so I'm wondering if they've closed their schools.
Like, a snow day, maybe, except instead of snow it's
"keep your children home so if you die, you die together" — instead of "well open back up once the plows have cleared" it's
"we don't know if we'll be here tomorrow, hold your babies tight."
It's just "talk" I'm told, which I've been told before.
"It's how the president makes his deals." But I've never heard anyone talk about other human beings this way, and I'm not certain I can look my son in the eyes if we all agree to stomach it one more time.
A civilization will die tonight, but as I zip up his backpack and kiss him off to school I think: if this is what we call leadership then I'm not entirely sure ours isn't already dead.
@michaelfdubois
Mukad A QuBoy
@michacifdubois
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Clare Moore @clarelmoore.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
✨Tolkien Society Seminar 2025 videos are up on YouTube✨ If you missed the seminar or want to revisit some of the talks, head over to the Society’s YouTube page to relive the magic ✨
A screen shot of the Tolkien Society’s YouTube page, showing thumbnails of a video list.
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 28/02/2026
The deadline to submit a paper or presentation is by the end of the day today! Don’t miss out, I would love to see you there! #westmoot #tolkien #tolkiensociety
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 31/01/2026
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here. (clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
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Nicholas Birns @nicholasbirns.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Very honored to have a chapter (on ecology and worldbuilding) in this anthology.
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Mercury Natis @mercuryreads.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
The cat's out of the bag!! My work is appearing in this very important incoming volume!!! It's been so hard keeping it secret for the last couple of years!!
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Marie Bretagnolle @mariebreta.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Can we talk about it now??? It's been a highlight of my budding career to be asked to co-author a chapter with @joelmerriner.bsky.social. I'm sooo excited to read everyone's contributions, especially @mercuryreads.bsky.social ✨
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Anna Smol @annasmol.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
I’m honoured to have a chapter in this volume on visualization, both on Tolkien’s visualizations as he composed his stories and on ways that viewers can imaginatively engage with his invented worlds through illustrations. I can’t wait to read the whole book!
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Clare Moore @clarelmoore.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Absolutely thrilled to be a part of this! Stay tuned for my chapter on the Medical Humanities 🎉
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Joel Merriner @joelmerriner.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
Honoured to be asked to co-write a chapter for this with the brilliant @mariebreta.bsky.social. 😄
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James K. Tauber @jtauber.com · 30/01/2026
Thrilled to have had the opportunity to write the chapter on Digital Humanities and I’m looking forward so much to reading the other chapters. @dimitrafimi.bsky.social and @lukebshelton.bsky.social were excellent editors!
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Tom Emanuel @realtomemanuel.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
I'm beyond honored to have written the chapter on Theological Criticism for what will be a phenomenal book. Mazel Tov to @lukebshelton.bsky.social, @dimitrafimi.bsky.social, and my brilliant fellow-conributors. A huge step in a mammoth undertaking!
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Dom @poliscijedi.bsky.social · 31/01/2026
I have a chapter about politics in this book. It was a fun excuse to catch up on the Tolkien scholarship and think about how to synthesize it all
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
So happy to share that @dimitrafimi.bsky.social and I have submitted this project to the publisher. I am very excited for the pieces in this volume to get into circulation because our authors worked diligently and put together some amazing chapters!
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
So happy to share that @dimitrafimi.bsky.social and I have submitted this project to the publisher. I am very excited for the pieces in this volume to get into circulation because our authors worked diligently and put together some amazing chapters!
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Joshua Dysart @joshuadysart.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Just a reminder, the greatest living American historian filmmaker, Ken Burns, released a 720 min exploration of every facet of the American revolution using zero generative AI and paying for all of its assets instead of cobbling it from stolen data, then he gave it away for free on PBS this year.
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Elizabeth Warren @elizabeth-warren.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Horrific. Trump’s federal agents shot and killed another person. Republicans in control of Congress could put a stop to this chaos. Enough. Get ICE out of Minnesota, stop funding this violence, and end the assault on our communities.
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
Photo posted on FB of the crowd in Minneapolis today. It refreshed before I could get the name of the original poster. Proud of this city!
Picture of a crowd of hundreds participating in the general strike in Minneapolis, Minnesota, today.
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
Taken from a book whose title I won’t mention here…for reasons 5/5
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
• Expose what happened. • Validate the target: show the positive aspects of whoever or whatever is attacked. • Interpret the events as unjust. • Mobilise support. Avoid or discredit official channels. • Resist intimidation and rewards. 4/5
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
What can be done in the face of these five methods that reduce outrage from injustice? The answer: counter each one of them. Here are the ways. 3/5
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
• Cover up the action. • Devalue the target. • Reinterpret what happened by lying, minimising, blaming and framing. • Use official channels to give an appearance of justice. • Intimidate or reward people involved 2/5
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
When a powerful group does something unjust, it can take action to reduce popular outrage. 1/5
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Westmoot @westmoot.org · 13/01/2026
#Westmoot26 Call for Activities is now open! Pitch your idea to coordinate a panel discussion, give a tour, live-record your podcast, host a game, and more! For details: visit our webpage and look for Call for Activities. #westmoot #intothewest @podcast.athrabeth.com @knewbettadobetta.bsky.social
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
When a powerful group does something unjust, it can take action to reduce popular outrage. 1/5
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Naomi Kritzer @naomikritzer.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
"I'm not in Minnesota -- what can I do to help?" A list of ideas!
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
So excited to see @aranelparmadil.bsky.social in person again!
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Since today is #Tolkien’s birthday and the annual birthday toast is happening, here is my blog post about it from a few years ago. It talks about why I appreciate the tradition! luke-shelton.com/2019/01/03/t...
luke-shelton.com
The Tolkien Birthday Toast–A Reflection on Reflection
It is easy to look at something like the Tolkien Birthday Toast from the outside and assume it is nothing more than an exercise performed by a group of over-enthusiastic nerds…I think there i…
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German Tolkien Society @germantolksoc.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Happy Birthday, Professor! 🎂 🎉 Today marks J.R.R. Tolkien's 134. Birthday! Worldwide, Tolkienfans will rise their glasses at 21:00 to honour the man who brought us all together. 🧑‍🎨 This amazing artwork of Tolkien is by the talented Rote Ronja who sailed into the West last August, much too soon.
Eine Zeichnung eines älteren, bärtigen Mannes in historischer Kleidung, der ein Pfeife raucht.
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MGCoco★ @mgcoco.bsky.social · 03/01/2026
Happy Birthday to JRR Tolkien! To the Professor! 🍻 #TolkienBirthdayToast #art
A cute drawing of Frodo Baggins with a mug of beer, the text says Tolkien Birthday Toast 2026
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Tolkien Society @tolkiensociety.org · 02/01/2026
Tomorrow is J.R.R. #Tolkien's 134th birthday! As Frodo did for Bilbo, the Tolkien Society continues to celebrate Tolkien's birthday in his absence with our #TolkienBirthdayToast. Our tradition: at 9pm your time raise a glass and toast "The Professor!" www.tolkiensociety.org/events/tolki...
tolkiensociety.org
Tolkien Birthday Toast 2026
To celebrate Tolkien's 134th birthday on 3 January 2026, the Tolkien Society invites all Tolkien fans to raise a toast to the Professor. The Toast After Bilbo left the Shire on his eleventy-first birt...
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Luke Shelton, PhD @lukebshelton.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
Always love reading about how people first experienced Middle-earth!
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Tolkien Society @tolkiensociety.org · 24/12/2025
You can join a worldwide organisation dedicated to #Tolkien - just in time for Christmas! Members of the Society receive 6 Amon Hen a year, our journal Mallorn, member-only events and discounts, and more! Visit www.tolkiensociety.org/join and join from anywhere in the world!
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Westmoot @westmoot.org · 21/12/2025
Call for papers! We are now accepting proposals for papers to be presented at #Westmoot26. Deadline is March 1, 2026. Please visit our webpage for more details. #intothewest #jrrtolkien #westmoot
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