ACTiME’s key research objectives:
Objective 1: Tie together the debate of autobiographical memory and individual trauma with the theories of collective memory and cultural trauma. Work Package 1 will be dedicated to this objective.
Objective 2: Develop a close-reading methodology that will allow to discuss and analyse collective memory and trauma in non-narrative sources. Work Package 2 will be dedicated to this objective.
Work Package 1 laid out the theoretical groundwork for the project. Its focus was on the historical author Sturla Þórðarson, whose writing constitutes much of the knowledge that we possess about 13th century Iceland. This helped me understand the complexities of trauma in a much deeper way than before ACTiME began. There were many elements that I have not taken as fully into consideration as I should have initially, namely the importance of an "event" for trauma narratives, and the euro-centric bias accompanying these discussions. Working on Sturla Þórðarson furthered my awareness to the complexities of medieval authorship, and issues of authorial agency. Work Package 2's goal was to investigate trauma in 15th century Iceland, especially in the context of the aftermath of the plague pandemic that hit Iceland between 1402-1404. It remains a work in progress and will require me to return to it. I am excited about any continued engagement with 15th century Icelandic material. Still, it seems evident to me that there is a "there" there, and that trauma can be detected in the diplomatic and annal texts that are extant from that time period. Work Package 3 focused on the training aspect of my MSCA fellowship. The main focus was on teaching, as well as editorial publishing work. As a part of this, I graduated from a level 2 in the Danish framework for advancing university pedagogy. The pedagogical studies made me legible for an associate professorship in the Danish academic system. In addition, the webcomic workshop that I developed as a part of these studies had become a great tool for guest teaching and networking. Work Package 4 focused on the dissemination of ACTiME's research. Beyond conference attendance and presentation, I organized a trauma and grief workshop and a traumatic memory roundtable, both with the participation of international scholars. The workshop and roundtable were successful, and will result in a book project co-edited alongside Pernille Hermann, which is already underway. Work Package 5 focused on the outreach goals of ACTiME, namely in the form of webcomics, popular writing, and public speaking engagements. The draft of a comic about trauma in the medieval Icelandic sagas has been completed, and work on the final form is underway. Public lectures were avoided due to issues of personal safety and mental well-being, and a book review was written for the public website lingoblog.dk (with another forthcoming).
