The V International Congress Image and Recognition, under the motto “The imago mundi of JRR Tolkien: poetics, myth and reality” aims to bring together researchers who reflect on the foundations of the work and thought of J.R.R. Tolkien and its audiovisual, artistic, musical, playful, etc. manifestations.

In addition to this year’s specific theme, we continue to pursue our core objective: to provide a humanistic perspective on the diverse forms of audiovisual production, including photography, audiovisual and transmedia narrative, comics, and video games, across all genres and formats. Our aim is to examine the expressive potential of the image as a means of recognizing the human experience.

Based on the aforementioned references, this project will concentrate on four main points, which will also serve as project objectives:

Topic 1: “The poetics of J.R.R. Tolkien”

This table includes works on the poetics of subcreation, eucatastrophe, the origin, value and nature of myth, the narrative and narratological roots in Tolkien’s work, its consequences in contemporary literature, etc.

Topic 2: “Refracted light and discourses on truth: Tolkien’s myths in dialogue with the human sciences”

This table includes the dialogue between philosophy, myth and narrative, which is based on the poetic doctrine, as well as any other topic or approach in which the relationship between the expressive force of myth in Tolkien and a discipline of the human sciences is evidenced. We would like to draw your attention to the following human sciences, which we consider to be particularly relevant: narratology, mythocriticism, mythoanalysis, ethics and politics, psychology, pedagogy, anthropology, metaphysics and theology.

Topic 3: “Languages and the shaping of possible worlds”

A thorough understanding of the identity and development of language is essential for grasping the underlying motivation behind the construction and design of Middle-earth. For Tolkien, the word was a fundamental element in the construction of his world. The table includes an analysis of the value of languages as a means of expressing mythological concepts and as a unifying element across different fields of knowledge. This study and analysis can be approached from a variety of perspectives, including philological, linguistic, and philosophical.

Topic 4: “Miscellaneous: Image and recognition”

This table provides an overview of the various artistic, musical, audiovisual narrative, transmedia, video game, comic book, and other representations that have been influenced by the thought and work of J.R.R. Tolkien. This could be seen as a way of developing the author’s world beyond the written work, or as a new approach or interpretation of the author’s work. All of this stems from the core concept that the image is a poetic representation of the myth.

The selection process will favor research projects that aim to facilitate an interdisciplinary dialog between the thematic areas and the humanities. In particular, the objects under study are presented as meaningful images that allow us to recognise our world and our way of inhabiting it. We are looking for:

1. Theoretical studies of conceptualization that facilitate the analysis of Tolkien’s work in relation to the development of narrative and poetics, and that promote research in this field.
2. Works of theoretical reflection on the fecundity and capacity of the poetic foundations of Tolkien’s thought and his work to present us with a meaningful world.
3. Analysis on the possible contributions or ethical, anthropological, social, etc., applications, of the main background themes and values that appear in J.R.R. Tolkien’s work.
4. Case analysis.
5. Hermeneutic, textual, aesthetic or close reading analysis of cultural objects.
6. Theoretical reflections and innovative methodological proposals related to the processes of creation and production of fictional worlds (worldbuilding).

OTHER ACTIVITIES PROPOSED FOR THE CONGRESS

A cineforum of “Return of the King”, (Peter Jackson, 2003).

This congress accepts proposals for oral communications whose written version may be published in the book with the results of the congress in the Sindéresis publishing house, recognized with the SPI quality seal for specialized publications in Humanities and Social Sciences; and proposals for academic video-essays whose final version may be published, with the approval of the scientific committee, on the congress web page, as well as reviewed in (and linked from) the aforementioned book that will contain the results of the congress.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCEPTANCE OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS, VIDEOSAYS AND PUBLICATION OF RESULTS

Please note that only proposals that meet the deadlines and formal requirements indicated in this call will be accepted. It is recommended that authors familiarise themselves with the registration, processes and schedule section of this call, and confirm the information on the conference website in case of updates.

Furthermore, the Scientific Committee will give particular consideration to the following criteria in light of the forthcoming publication of the Congress results by Sindéresis Publishing House, which has been awarded the SPI seal of quality for specialised publications in the Humanities and Social Sciences:

• The relevance of the contribution in relation to the motto of the congress, JRR Tolkien: poetics, myth and language, with special emphasis on one of the four thematic areas.
• The scientific quality of the proposals and their possible impact on the training of communication professionals or on the professional flows of audiovisual production.
• The originality and novelty of the proposal.

ORAL COMMUNICATION PROPOSALS

Authors are requested to send their oral communication proposals by means of a form on the congress website with the following data:

• Name and SURNAME(S).
• DNI.
• ORCID number (if available).
• Affiliation (if available).
• A postal address, in case it is necessary to send certificates or publications.
• An abstract in Spanish, Portuguese or English of between 400-500 words, including: problem statement, purpose, methodology, results and expected conclusions.
• A list (between three and five) of the sources to be used.
• A resume or brief CV of 100-150 words.

The deadline for sending proposals is January 24, 2022; registration for the congress can be done once the communication is accepted by the scientific committee and always before February 14, 2022.

PROPOSALS FOR VIDEO POSPOSALS

Authors are requested to send their oral communication proposals by means of a form on the congress website with the following data:

• Name and SURNAME(S).
• DNI.
• ORCID Nº (if available).
• Affiliation (if any).
• A postal address, in case it is necessary to send certificates or publications.
• A presentation of the video with a length of 400-500 words, in Spanish, Portuguese or English.
• A brief list of the sources used.
• A resume or brief cv of 100-150 words.

Video essays should fit into one of the following genres, to be specified in the proposal: supercut; scene analysis, shots, or structural; and thematic essays. In all cases, they must be thematically adjusted to the areas proposed in the call for papers. They may be written in any language, always with English subtitles. Their duration should be around 10 minutes.

Please be advised that the deadline for the final submission of proposals is 24 January 2023. Registration to the congress is contingent upon the proposal being accepted by the scientific committee. It is therefore essential that this is completed before 14 February 2023.

The video essay must be hosted on the Vimeo platform with private access. The first images of the video essay must include the author’s name, the title of the video essay, as well as the name, date and logo of the congress. Please note that the deadline for sending the URL with the final video essay and the password to access it is 14 February 2023.