Admin Post: August 2020 Challenge: Utopia/Dystopia

[dawn_felagund]

For more than a decade, the SWG has encouraged its members to focus on the sometimes overlooked Second Age of Middle-earth for “Akallabêth in August”.

The Second Age sees the creation of new realms—such as Eregion or Númenor—founded in hope and idealism after the War of Wrath. But in Arda Marred, good things never last. Eregion is overrun by Sauron, and Númenor descends into aggression and tyranny. In an earlier age, the seemingly perfect environment of Valinor becomes a prison to some of its inhabitants, while later even the idyllic Shire turns foul under Saruman’s influence. Whether the seeds of destruction are brought in from outside or whether they were there from the start, the fragility of bliss, the Fall from Grace and the slippery slope from good intentions to evil deeds are a frequent theme in Tolkien’s works.

To reflect both the idealistic beginnings and the dark endings that are so frequent in the Legendarium, we invite you to create a fanwork inspired by utopian or dystopian prompts from novels, songs, artworks, or films. Your fanwork doesn’t have to be utopian or dystopian in itself, nor does it have to be about the Second Age (though of course there will be special stamps if it is); it simply has to respond to your prompt—wherever that prompt takes you.

This month, you will select your own prompt from the list below. In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 10 September 2020. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.

( Prompt List )