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These days the written word is coming under a great deal of pressure from visual media. Increasingly we feel we have to refer to films "which everyone knows" or contemporary mass culture in order to explain theories and discuss the pattern of a text. Photography, television and films have taken over a large share of information exchange, education and entertainment. The flow of images reaches us via the ever-changing forms of new technologies and the "medium is the message". But visual media are not merely part of our reality: we talk of a "world wiew" and this reflects the fact that the public space, and therefore our culture, is becoming more visual by the day. This anthology considers literature and visual culture form a number of different perspectives. It provides valuable assistance in the quest for a new understanding of the interplay and fusion of image and text in the modern era, in new yet at the same time well-established forms. ... Read more

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The Sagas of Icelanders are enduring stories from Viking-Age Iceland filled with love and romance, battles and feuds, tragedy and comedy. Yet these tales are little read today, even by lovers of literature. The culture and history of the people depicted in the Sagas are often unfamiliar to the modern reader, though the audience for whom the tales were intended would have had an intimate understanding of the material. This text introduces the modern reader to the daily lives and material culture of the Vikings. Topics covered include Icelandic religion, social customs, the settlement of disputes, and major milestones in life of Viking-Age Icelanders. Issues of dispute among scholars, such as the nature of settlement and the division of land, are addressed in the text. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Don't let Pop Culture determine who the 'Vikings' were
Short's examination of these people is nothing short of fascinating.Growing up with endless showcases in popular culture, movies, games, and even biased historical accounts, one would easily miss out on learning what a 'true' Viking was like or why they did what they did.Short regularly refers to information from the Sagas, and supports many comments using archaeological evidence and research that not only supports writings in the Sagas, but still exist to this day. To be able to cross-reference so much from what the 'vikings' wrote to what is continually being unearthed and researched gives the reader a sense that there are so many more layers and an amazing depth of character and culture that demands much more respect from the modern audience. Granted it is nearly impossible to get into such depth in a school history class, for instance, but Short's book easily helps scratch deeper into the surface on the vikings, and would make an excellent stand-by reference or supplement to historical research.This would be a welcomed addition to any historical library, and will probably never sit on a shelf for long.

Short's book is densely referenced, researched and presented in a clear, defiant manner, with several excellent illustrations and with photos he has taken himself.Short also gives a number of lectures and demonstrations/presentations that are very informative, engaging, and enjoyable, which are highly recommended.

A solid addition to any world history collections focusing on the Middle Ages
Commonly written off as Barbarians, the people of Iceland were nothing but. "Icelanders in the Viking Age: The People of the Sagas" is a historical look at the people of Iceland during the heights of the Viking age, from about 800 to 1100 where Norwegian sailors found Iceland and claimed it as their own, developing their own version of the Viking culture. A land of art, society, and literature that revered war, "Icelanders in the Viking Age" is a riveting exploration of these peoples, a solid addition to any world history collections focusing on the Middle Ages.
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Occasional publication series (Canadian Circumpolar Institute) No. 62. Includes bibliographical references. Joanna Kafarowski received her PhD in natural resources & environmental studies from the University of Northern British Columbia, 2008. ... Read more

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Les achats comprennent une adhésion à l'essai gratuite au club de livres de l'éditeur, dans lequel vous pouvez choisir parmi plus d'un million d'ouvrages, sans frais. Le livre consiste d'articles Wikipedia sur : Culture de L'islande, Nom Islandais, Symboles Magiques Islandais, Iceland Airwaves. Non illustré. Mises à jour gratuites en ligne. Extrait : L'Islande est célèbre pour toutes les sagas qui y ont été imaginées et mises par écrit à l'époque médiévale : certaines, comme la saga de Hrafnkell, sont toujours lues et appréciées aujourd'hui. Les Islandais sont entre deux tendances culturelles. D'un côté, les traditions qui s'expriment par la conservation qui transmet certaines croyances (présence d'elfes invisibles par exemple), de l'autre l'américanisation imprègne le pays : séries en anglais sous-titrés islandais, Coca-Cola omniprésent. L'alimentation venant de l'étranger est rarement totalement traduite (par exemple les céréales ; cela ne serait pas rentable pour le producteur), football américain à la télévision. Parmi les Islandais célèbres, on compte la chanteuse de pop Björk, les groupes Sigur Rós, GusGus, The Sugarcubes, Solstafir, Falkenbach, Múm, on peut constater que la majorité de ces groupes connus au-delà de la frontière islandaise sont orientés principalement sur l'électro, l'électro-pop et le post-rock ou l'avant-garde metal et le viking metal. En littérature, le romancier Þór Vilhjálmsson est très connu, et Guðbergur Bergsson Halldór Laxness reçut le prix Nobel de littérature en 1955. Pour le roman policier, Arnaldur Indriðason, est traduit et apprécié dans la plupart des langues occidentales. En sport, le joueur de football de l'AS Monaco Eiður Guðjohnsen. Un extrait de la Saga de Njáll le BrûléLa littérature islandaise est la littérature écrite en islandais dans la langue du pays. Les sagas, contes épiques qui se déroulent pendant la période de colonisation de l'Islande, sont les plus connues. Les plus conn...http://booksllc.net/?l=fr ... Read more

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This major survey of Old Norse-Icelandic literature and culture comprises 29 chapters written by leading scholars in the field, over a third of whom are Icelanders. At the same time, it conveys a sense of the mainland Scandinavian origins of the Icelandic people, and reflects the ongoing contact between Iceland and other countries and cultures.

The volume highlights current debates among Old Norse-Icelandic scholars specializing in different aspects of the subject. Coverage of traditional topics is complemented by material on previously neglected areas of study, such as the sagas of Icelandic bishops and the translated knights’ sagas. Chapters on ‘archaeology’, ‘social institutions’ and ‘geography and travel’ make it possible to view the literature in its wider cultural context while chapters on ‘reception’ and ‘continuity’ demonstrate the ways in which medieval Norse-Icelandic literature and culture overflow into the modern period. ... Read more

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This digital document is an article from NZ Business, published by Profile Publishing Ltd. on December 1, 2004. The length of the article is 809 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Exporting prawn rearing technology: a small Taupo company is poised to export its prawn breeding and rearing technology to the world using Iceland as the global gateway. Katherine Edmond reports.(export review)
Author: Katherine Edmond
Publication: NZ Business (Magazine/Journal)
Date: December 1, 2004
Publisher: Profile Publishing Ltd.
Volume: 18Issue: 11Page: 46(1)

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! X Factor, the Icelandic version of the popular British television show The X Factor premiered Reykjavik on November 17, 2006. The host is actress Halla Vilhjálmsdóttir. The judges are talent agent and businessman Einar Bárðarson, rock musician Elínborg Halldórsdóttir and pop singer Páll Óskar Hjálmtýsson. Einar and Páll Óskar were both judges in Idol stjörnuleit, the Icelandic version of Pop Idol. The finals were held in Vetrargarðinum (roughly translated as Wintergarden) which is in Smáralind, the largest shopping center in Iceland. Winner of the competition was Faroese singer and hair dresser, Jógvan Hansen. ... Read more

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Considering that the island nation of Iceland is home to just over a quarter of a million people, its street art scene is astoundingly robust, varied and inventive.
Multi-talented author Thordis Claessen spent several years documenting the scene photographically and then designed and illustrated this brilliant book about the art, music and politics of the capital Reykjavik and its surrounding environs.
The street art featured in Icepick covers a wide range of themes and subject matter from traditional Icelandic icons to sheep, Vikings, fantastic gothic creations dreamt up during long Icelandic nights and colorful graffiti pieces that evoke the New York street art scene. The methods and processes behind this playful artwork are equally varied, and include traditional aerosol paint, wheat paste, stickers, grease pencils, paintbrushes, markers and chalk.
That such a rich and colorful street art presence exists in such a small nation, one can't help but think that a large proportion of the population must be involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Really cool book
A very cool book, piles of graffiti from Iceland, a really great documentary, but the look and layout of the book also makes it perfect for the coffee table. If you like graffiti, street art, graphic design and Reykjavik, Iceland, you will love this book. ... Read more

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Introduces and showcases the beautiful city of Reykjavik and the country of Iceland, including its nature, use of natural resources, and the unique harmonious existence of nature and culture. ... Read more

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Illustrated art exhibition catalog. Icelandic text with preface by Iceland's former president in Icelandic, Norwegian, and English. Exhibition (1974) on the development of visual art in Iceland, reminiscent of the history of the Icelandic people, as seen from a particular angle. Icelandic culture past and present. ... Read more

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Examine the everyday lives of gay and lesbian Icelanders!

Icelandic Lives: The Queer Experience explores the lives of gays, lesbians, and bisexuals living in Iceland through a series of in-depth interviews culled from many hours of research over a two-year period. The results touch on a variety of themes, including the experience of growing up gay, the coming-out process, and everyday gay life in Iceland. These straightforward oral histories reflect the thoughts of Icelandic gay men and women toward love and relationships, their views on the issues that affect their lives, and their outlook for the future.

Icelandic Lives: The Queer Experience counters the distinct lack of information available on queer life in Iceland with courageous and candid interviews that address the pressing issues facing gay men and lesbians everywhere. Interview subjects—men and women—range in age from late 50s to early 20s, providing a sense of the progress made by Icelandic society in accepting gay people. Those interviewed include:

Karl, male, late 50s: "AIDS took a great number of people I knew 10 years ago. All of a sudden they were gone."
Hanna, female, early 40s: "I am still attracted to men but now I see I am also attracted to women. I am not sure what to think now."
Gudmundur, male, late 20s: "I saw nothing happening in the gay scene in Iceland. I became desperate and thought there were only two possibilities: be straight or move away."
Sunna, female, mid-30s: "At first, I thought maybe one or two people knew about me. I found out that a lot of people knew about me because people tended to do the job of sharing for me."
and much more!

Icelandic Lives: The Queer Experience is a unique resource that gives a real sense of everyday gay life in Iceland. The book's heartfelt narrative descriptions will benefit academics, researchers, and anyone interested in the queer experience. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

gay/lesbian Iceland
Scandinavia is known internationally as a gay-friendly place.However, few commentators or academics have discussed gays in Iceland.This book tries to break that ice (pun intended).It consists of narratives of gay men and lesbians of various ages discussing coming out, finding love, and fighting homophobia.

This book is incredibly simplistic.There is no analysis here whatsoever.This is very much meant for lay readers, rather than scholars.The chapters are quite short.What few photos there areare grainy and poorly produced.There are many photos of the contributors as children, yet this was not specifically a gay youth text.While there have been many books on gay Asia written by whites (Peter Jackson's "Dear Uncle Go", Bret Hirsch's "Passions of the Cut Sleeve", and Gary Leupp's "Male Colors" are examples), this is the first time I've seen an Asian person write on gay Europe.The book was narrated in English and linguistic errors were kept.They are cute and do add flavor.But when you read it, in your head, you'll think a gay Arnold Schwartzenegger was doing the narrating.

This is a very slim, quickly consumible text.One reason for that is there is little about which to comment.Iceland has verygay-accepting laws.The editor mentions that gays can't adopt, but there are few children to adopt in Iceland anyway.This island with its small, homogenous population just has no reason to abuse its own, no matter what the sexual identity.

This book ends with a photo of men carrying a bear flag.I think leather and bears are being conflated here, but it's nice seeing the movement be international. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (4)

pricey
For the outrageous price one gets a very succint introduction into the habits of the Icelanders, not entirely updated.

It is very good for a two hours fun read for someone who does not really plan to visit the country. The amount of information given is more easily gathered through a TV documentary though, and anyone wishing real help should address oneself elsewhere.

To keep matters very light but do it more usefully, about 40 more pages would have sufficed, together with a more rational partition of topics.

I would have appreciated more attention to the intercourse between foreigners and natives, not excluding the more friendly or even intimate point of view.

The author exploits the customary habit of British essayist of making fun of every detail. He does it very well and I found myself laughing silly at times, but puns in the end tend to get in the way of information instead of helping one to memorise it.

Greetings from Iceland
This humorous "guide" gives insight to the character and behavior of the Icelanders. Everything from knitting to politics is covered. Some of the information given in this book is now outdated, such as the restrictions on the importation of dairy products. These tend to be minor details and do not take away from the quality of the book. No pictures.

Great & Humorous Insight
What a delightful surprise I had in store when I purchase this book for a friend that will be traveling to Iceland for the first time.I couldn't put it down once I opened it.Filled with humor and hopefully some truth it is delightful from start to finish.Now I wish I were the one traveling to Iceland!

Fantastic portrayal of a nation
This book is fantastic. I'm Icelandic myself and everything this book states is completely correct and a greatly humorous view of the nation. Apart from a few misspelling Icelandic names and concepts this book iswonderful ... Read more

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The Rewriting of Njáls saga concerns itself with the process which enables literary texts to cross cultures and endure history. Through six interrelated case studies, Jón Karl Helgason focuses on the reception of Njáls saga, the most distinguished of the Icelandic sagas, in Britain, the United States, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, between 1861 and 1945. The editions and translations in question claim to represent a medieval narrative to their audience, but Helgason emphasises how these texts simultaneously reflect the rewriters' contemporary ideas about race, culture, politics and poetics. Introducing the principles of comparative Translation Studies to the field of Medieval Literature, Helgason's book identifies the dialogue between literary (re)production and society. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Forking Paths of Njals Saga
Jon Karl Helgason's review of the myriad forms taken by the matter of Njals Saga bases itself in the discipline of translation studies.This recognises that translations are new works in their own right and are constrained as much by the poetics and ideology of the receptor culture as they are by linguistic elements of the original.Helgason prefaces his study proper with a useful and concise overview of the precepts of translation studies which places his book (and then indeed, this review) at the latter end of the Njals Saga tradition which is not a fixed literary work but rather an ongoing textual tradition, exposed to many and varied influences.

These influences, as they apply to the 'rewriting' (translation and/or adaptation) of Njals Saga in the UK, US and Scandinavia between 1861 and 1945, are investigated in some detail.The focus remains firmly on how modern nations, via their literary operatives and agencies, have claimed the saga as an item of variously descended ancestral literature to be applied in the creation or remoulding of a national identity.This process ranges from the obvious, with Njals Saga as the figure head of a proud and distinct cultural heritage in the newly-independent Iceland, to the more obscure with English and American versions recalling Medieval Iceland as the heir to Ancient Greece and, as it were, the cradle of civilisation in the north.There is also a particularly revealing chapter on the role of Njals Saga in distinguishing a Scandinavian identity, separate from other Germanic peoples, during the Nazi occupation of Denmark.

The focus is almost exclusively on culture and politics, dealing with the motivation and potential goals of each version at the expense of any analysis of the final works.Thus we learn much of the saga's Nineteenth-Century translation into fledgling written Norwegian, but are left to wonder how the divergences from previous editions in Danish (which hitherto had exerted a cultural and literary hegemony in Norway) may have affected the re-reading of the saga.These differences, while linguistically minor, are touted as sufficient to identify the saga as a culturally and nationally distinct product, but the significance of their impact, if any, on the sense of Njals Saga is not developed.

One translator is noted to have 'shortened many of the sagas' but there is neither analysis of how this rewriting altered sagas structurally or artistically, nor investigation into the constraints upon that elision. The only significant analysis of a rewritten saga product is given to the turn of the century adaptation and abridgement by the American, Allen French.

Via an exclusive focus on the ideological constraints of the various rewritings, the literary and linguistic investigations teasingly hinted at in the title and introduction remain, alas, unfulfilled.Helgason adopts Jorge Luis Borges's metaphor of the garden of forking paths - the medieval Njals saga inspires inter- and intra-lingual translations, in turn sparking derivatives as diverse as Renaissance Poetry, Victorian Drama, and Twentieth Century children's story books.He provides us with a thorough account of where and why the path forks, but, unfortunately, little insight into where each new turn may take us. ... Read more

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Reprint of the Icelander sagas, The Elder and Younger Eddas, translated into English from the Old Norse. ... Read more

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Nordic National Cinemas explores the film histories and cultures of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The authors examine each country's domestic film production, social and political context and domestic audiences from the beginning of this century to the twentieth century.
The authors not only explore the work of internationally renowned figures such as Mauritz Stiller, Victor Sjostrom, Carl Dreyer and Ingmar Bergman, directors of such classics as Vampyr, Ordet, Wild Strawberries and Cries and Whispers, but also nationally important film makers such as August Blom, Bodil Ipsen, Lau Lauritzen and Nils Malmros, they also discuss contemporary film makers including Gabriel Axel, director of Babette's Feast, the Kaurismaki brothers, directors of The Match Factory Girl and The Leningrad Cowboys and the recently acclaimed Lars von Trier, director of Breaking the Waves. ... Read more