Project description
Gender dynamics in mediaeval society and their enduring impact on popular culture
In the tapestry of mediaeval Icelandic literature, a captivating motif emerges: the portrayal of strong, politically influential women diverging from conventional roles. Yet, understanding these characters remains elusive amidst the labyrinth of historical context and narrative complexity. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the SWON project aims to unravel the parallels between these ancient sagas and contemporary superhero narratives, forging a theoretical framework rooted in both fields of study. Drawing from legendary and chivalric sagas, the project identifies the elusive ‘she-wolf’ archetype, blending Norse traditions with European folklore. SWON constructs a spectrum of character types akin to superhero narratives.
Objective
This project investigates the similarities between superhero narrative in modern popular culture and medieval Icelandic literature so as to (1) establish a viable theoretical framework based on current research on superheroes and (2) to apply it to a selection of medieval Icelandic texts that feature strong, politically powerful women who do not conform to conventional gender roles. The primary corpus will be drawn from the legendary and the chivalric sagas between ca. 1300 and 1600, which were composed under heavy influence of medieval French romances. Criteria will be established so as to define 'she-wolf' -- a concept drawn from both the Old Norse-Icelandic traditions of shapeshifting and fylgja and later chivalrid literature, and from the symbolism of wolf in European folklore that gave rise to Shakespeare's epithet 'she-wolf'. Based on the criteria, relevant characters will be classified into physical-visual, metaphorical-associative, and behaviourable she-wolves for further case-study based analysis. On the methodological side, this project constructs a spectrum based on character-types in superhero narratives: villain, anti-villain, and anti-hero, into which different categories of she-wolves will be analysed. A selection of post-medieval texts with roots traceable to the medieval materials will also be considered to highlight the motif's continuity and contemporary relevance.
Overall, this project aims to bridge three academic fields -- medieval (literary) studies, medievalisms, and popular culture -- and shed lights not only on Old Norse-Icelandic literary motifs (such as the Maiden King and the supernatural elements) but also on the conceptualisation
and representation of female, femininity, and issues of gender and ethnicity in the society that produced and enjoyed this literature.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- social sciences sociology anthropology cultural anthropology folklore
- social sciences sociology anthropology ethnology
- humanities arts performing arts dramaturgy
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
0313 Oslo
Norway
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