Old Norse Emotions Network
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD
Department Name: English Faculty
Abstract
We are seeking funding to grow a global network of scholars who are dedicated to exploring emotions in Old Norse literature. This fascinating yet budding field of study examines how emotions were portrayed in medieval Icelandic texts. By expanding this network, we aim to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among international experts, as well as emerging scholars and those whose area(s) of expertise or interest overlaps with the field, including those working in other sectors.
The discipline of Old Norse studies is at a crossroads with the retirement of key leaders of the field in UK academia, and we hope this network will help sustain and enhance the discipline's future. Moreover, understanding emotions in Old Norse literature remains a challenging endeavor with many fundamental questions still to be answered. This international network aims to tackle these questions head-on, ultimately leading to three major publications.
The network began with a gathering at an international conference in Reykjavik and has since evolved into an online workshop, producing significant research about the various emotional states portrayed in Icelandic sagas. While the online collaboration has been fruitful, we aim to use the requested funding to support in-person workshops, thus encouraging more robust and dynamic exchanges among scholars.
The funding will enable three 2-day in-person workshops, two in Oxford and one in Iceland. The first workshop will focus on the theoretical basis of Old Norse emotion research, examining diverse disciplinary approaches and methods for interpreting emotional expressions in different types of text. The second workshop will apply the methodologies derived from the first to a specific genre of Old Norse literature. The last workshop will explore the link between emotion studies and other theoretical approaches to Old Norse studies.
These workshops aim to stimulate open-ended discussion, and the precise themes of the latter two will be responsive to emerging insights. Attendees will present on a key question or issue related to a text from the Old Norse corpus, fostering collaborative knowledge creation. The workshop format will promote dynamic thinking, allowing ideas to be fluid and adaptable, which is a fundamental aspect of our research process. In addition to workshops, we will also hold virtual meetings to discuss ongoing research, strengthening ties between participants throughout the duration of the project.
Participants will range from early career researchers to professors emeriti, all of whom have a keen interest in Old Norse-Icelandic and Viking studies and the study of emotion. The project's outputs will also benefit undergraduate and graduate students studying these areas. Ultimately, our goal is to drive forward research in Old Norse emotion studies and provide a solid foundation for future work in this intriguing field.
The discipline of Old Norse studies is at a crossroads with the retirement of key leaders of the field in UK academia, and we hope this network will help sustain and enhance the discipline's future. Moreover, understanding emotions in Old Norse literature remains a challenging endeavor with many fundamental questions still to be answered. This international network aims to tackle these questions head-on, ultimately leading to three major publications.
The network began with a gathering at an international conference in Reykjavik and has since evolved into an online workshop, producing significant research about the various emotional states portrayed in Icelandic sagas. While the online collaboration has been fruitful, we aim to use the requested funding to support in-person workshops, thus encouraging more robust and dynamic exchanges among scholars.
The funding will enable three 2-day in-person workshops, two in Oxford and one in Iceland. The first workshop will focus on the theoretical basis of Old Norse emotion research, examining diverse disciplinary approaches and methods for interpreting emotional expressions in different types of text. The second workshop will apply the methodologies derived from the first to a specific genre of Old Norse literature. The last workshop will explore the link between emotion studies and other theoretical approaches to Old Norse studies.
These workshops aim to stimulate open-ended discussion, and the precise themes of the latter two will be responsive to emerging insights. Attendees will present on a key question or issue related to a text from the Old Norse corpus, fostering collaborative knowledge creation. The workshop format will promote dynamic thinking, allowing ideas to be fluid and adaptable, which is a fundamental aspect of our research process. In addition to workshops, we will also hold virtual meetings to discuss ongoing research, strengthening ties between participants throughout the duration of the project.
Participants will range from early career researchers to professors emeriti, all of whom have a keen interest in Old Norse-Icelandic and Viking studies and the study of emotion. The project's outputs will also benefit undergraduate and graduate students studying these areas. Ultimately, our goal is to drive forward research in Old Norse emotion studies and provide a solid foundation for future work in this intriguing field.
