‘Translating Fantasy: Language, Culture and Mythology — with a Navajo Case study'

Language, Culture and Mythology in Fantasy. The German fantasy author Barbara Fischer in conversation with Mark Atherton.
Barbara presents her short story set in the modern world at the Barringer Crater located in Coconino County, Arizona, in Hopi territory. She talks about myth, politics, ethnography, colonialism and the process of writing fantasy. She also discusses her series of ‘Baumwelt’ novels and their various mythological influences.

Following the very successful seminars series on J. R. R. Tolkien in 2023 and 2024 (for recordings see: podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/fantasy-literature) we are pleased to announce a new round of presentations by Oxford academics on fantasy literature to run this Michaelmas Term (2025). These talks are aimed at students and members of the public and act as introductions to a range of writers and texts in the field of fantasy literature/weird fiction. The series is organised by the Faculty of English and hosted by Exeter College.

All talks will be held in the Fitzhugh Lecture Theatre, Cohen Quad, Walton Street, Oxford (Exeter College’s annex), and run 1.00-2.00pm. Attendance is free of charge but we ask you to register using the link: english.web.ox.ac.uk/seminar-series-weird-and-wonderful