Abstract
The legend of the seal wife in the village Mikladalur has inspired poets and artists
since it was first published in 1852. When a statue of the seal wife was placed by
the shore of Mikladalur in 2014 it sparked a heated public discussion on whether
the depiction was too old-fashioned and misogynistic. The article compares the
statue with the way the seal wife motif is being used by author and poet Marjun
Syderbø Kjelnæs and reflects on how the statue depicts perceptions of men and
women in modern Faroese society, and on how cultural heritage is affected by
being staged as tourist destination and brand
since it was first published in 1852. When a statue of the seal wife was placed by
the shore of Mikladalur in 2014 it sparked a heated public discussion on whether
the depiction was too old-fashioned and misogynistic. The article compares the
statue with the way the seal wife motif is being used by author and poet Marjun
Syderbø Kjelnæs and reflects on how the statue depicts perceptions of men and
women in modern Faroese society, and on how cultural heritage is affected by
being staged as tourist destination and brand
Translated title of the contribution | The Seal wife as motif in contemporary Faroese art and literature |
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Original language | Icelandic |
Pages (from-to) | 219-232 |
Journal | Frændafundur |
Volume | 9 |
Publication status | Published - 2018 |