Troll Talk: Trolls in Art, Literature & Conflict (Livestream)

Discover how artists and writers, including J.R.R. Tolkien, Tove Jansson, and postwar Nordic painters, used trolls to wrestle with war, displacement, and the search for hope in dark times.

From J.R.R. Tolkien’s wartime imagination to Tove Jansson’s beloved Moomin trolls, trolls have often been used to grapple with themes of war, exile, and recovery. This talk explores how artists and writers in the 20th century turned to troll imagery in response to conflict and change, finding ways to express resilience, alienation, and hope. Along the way, we’ll consider how trolls became unlikely companions in humanity’s darkest chapters.