Saga Brief 21 - Interpreting the Past Series (Part I) - Modern Perceptions of the Viking Age with Verena Hoefig and Zachary Melton
Saga Thing18 Apr 2021

Saga Brief 21 - Interpreting the Past Series (Part I) - Modern Perceptions of the Viking Age with Verena Hoefig and Zachary Melton

Welcome to the first in a series of special Saga Briefs on Interpreting the Past, a series that looks at modern interpretations and perceptions of the medieval. In this episode, John and Andy welcome two scholars, Dr. Verena Höfig (Assistant Professor in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and Zachary Melton (Ph.D. student at the University of Iceland).

We cover a range of topics, including the appeal of Viking Age culture and mythology to modern religious and political movements; the role of literature, history, and social media in the construction of individual and group identities; and the challenges that we face, both as scholars and as citizens of this world, coming to terms with the many differences of interpretation that divide us.

As that list suggests, this isn't the usual light stroll through the sagas. This episode is short on jokes and heavy on substantive discussion of important issues. Whether you're an expert or an enthusiast, this one's worth your time. We hope you enjoy and we look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Here is a bibliography of the texts and studies referred to, either directly or indirectly, in this episode:

American Heathens: The Politics of Identity in a Pagan Religious Movement by Jennifer Snook

“Ethnicity as Cognition” by Rogers Brubaker, Mara Loveman, and Peter Stamatov

Gods of the Blood: The Pagan Revival and White Separatism by Mattias Gardell

Huginn’s Heathen Hof and Declaration 127

Karl Seigfried on Ásatrú, Anti-Racism, and Rescuing the Past – quote taken from “What To Do When Racists Try To Hijack Your Religion” in The Atlantic

Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right by Arlie Russell Hochschild

“William Cullen Bryant’s American Antiquities: Medievalism, Miscegenation and Race in The Prairies” by Andrew Galloway

Music Credits

Opening song – Icelandic Folk Music: Tröllaslagur

Outro – Ólafur Liljurós

Episoder(215)

Episode 41c - Víga-Glúm's Saga (chapters 10-15)

Episode 41c - Víga-Glúm's Saga (chapters 10-15)

In this episode, Glúm continues to establish himself as a leading figure in southern Eyjafjörður. We start with a brief overview of the many marriages that take place at this stage of the saga, includ...

25 Feb 1h 40min

Episode 41b - Viga-Glum's Saga (chapters 6-9)

Episode 41b - Viga-Glum's Saga (chapters 6-9)

Saga Thing returns after a much-needed holiday to pick up the story of young Glúm Eyjólfsson, better known to history as Víga-Glúm. When last we left you, Glúm's father (Eyjólf, who some called Lump) ...

5 Jan 1h 45min

Episode 41a - Viga-Glum's Saga (chapters 1-5)

Episode 41a - Viga-Glum's Saga (chapters 1-5)

We’re thrilled to kick off our first episode of Víga-Glúms saga, the last of the sagas of Eyjafjörð. Víga-Glúms saga is one of the great character-driven Íslendingasögur, often drawing comparisons to ...

25 Nov 20251h 39min

Saga Short 15 - Halloween Tales featuring "The Cairn-Dweller's Tale" (Kumlbúa þáttr) and The Dream of Thorstein Siðu-Hallsson

Saga Short 15 - Halloween Tales featuring "The Cairn-Dweller's Tale" (Kumlbúa þáttr) and The Dream of Thorstein Siðu-Hallsson

A little Halloween treat for all you Saga Thing fans. You'll want to listen with headphones to get the full effect on these two spooky tales. Listen and then share your thoughts on our social media: S...

31 Okt 202525min

Hwaet a Movie - Episode 6 - Beowulf (2007)

Hwaet a Movie - Episode 6 - Beowulf (2007)

Hwæt a Movie is back! This time we dive deep into the uncanny valley epic Beowulf from 2007. Released at the height of Robert Zemeckis's motion-capture mania, this version of our favorite Old English ...

20 Okt 20252h 18min

Saga Brief 28 - Ljósvetninga Saga Interview with Dr. Yoav Tirosh

Saga Brief 28 - Ljósvetninga Saga Interview with Dr. Yoav Tirosh

In this episode, we finally sit down with Dr. Yoav Tirosh, one of the leading voices in Old Norse–Icelandic studies and an all-around fascinating person to talk to. Yoav has written extensively on top...

7 Okt 20251h 40min

Episode 40i - Ljósvetninga Saga (Judgments)

Episode 40i - Ljósvetninga Saga (Judgments)

After nearly a year of working our way through Ljósvetninga Saga, it is finally time to bring it to the Saga Thing and pass judgments. As always, we'll pass out awards for Best Bloodshed, Nicknames, a...

17 Sep 20251h 56min

Episode 40h - Ljósvetninga Saga (chapters 28-31)

Episode 40h - Ljósvetninga Saga (chapters 28-31)

In this episode, we finally come to the end of Ljósvetninga saga! And there are a lot of loose ends to wrap up. Eyjolf Guðmundarson still burns for vengeance against his brother’s killers, but the cou...

12 Aug 20251h 31min

Populært innen Samfunn

rss-spartsklubben
giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
konspirasjonspodden
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-nesten-hele-uka-med-lepperod
popradet
rss-henlagt-andy-larsgaard
grenselos
wolfgang-wee-uncut
synnve-og-vanessa
fladseth
min-barneoppdragelse
rss-dannet-uten-piano
frokostshowet-pa-p5
alt-fortalt
rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
krisemoter
rss-frekvens-med-anine-olsen