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Death Rituals and Britain’s Body: Antiquarianism, Scandinavia, and Cultural Politics

Project description

The role of Scandinavian heritage in shaping British identity

In the 18th century, the British Isles developed a national identity and independent cultural artefacts by exploring vernacular literary traditions. Norse tradition is believed to have played a role in this process. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme, the DEATHRIT project explores how Norse language and imagery shaped ‘Britishness’ in the 18th century. It examines how British nations used Scandinavian heritage to affirm their cultural identity. The project establishes a new approach to the body politic metaphor, considering death and rituals in nation-building. To offer a fresh perspective, the project analyses select 18th-century British antiquarian poetry, essays, plays, travel literature, and periodic reviews related to Scandinavian-inspired death and ritual.

Objective

DEATHRIT aims to examine how language and imagery, borrowed from Norse tradition, contributed to shaping the concept of 'Britishness' in the eighteenth century. This was a period when the British Isles were establishing emergent ideas of national identity and independent cultural artefacts by seeking vernacular literary traditions. Through a historical-contextual analysis of British texts, DEATHRIT examines how British nations used ideas of historical and ethnic heritage—specifically that of Scandinavia and Iceland—to affirm or transform their own cultural identity during the eighteenth century. The project objectives are as follows:

1. To situate eighteenth-century texts about Britain’s perceived heritage in Norse culture in relation to ongoing conversations concerning Britain’s relationship with Europe.
2. To demonstrate that the appropriation and mediation of ancient Scandinavian death imagery was an important vehicle for conceptualising British identity during the eighteenth century.
3. To establish a new approach to the body politic metaphor, one that accounts for death and death rituals as part of the function or dysfunction of a nation state.

With these objectives, DEATHRIT aims to build on existing work within the fields of Eighteenth Century Studies and Norse Reception Studies. In doing so, it will establish the role of cross-historical and cross-cultural exchange, specifically with Scandinavia, within Britain's identity and nation-building process. It will draw on the theoretical fields of Disability Studies and Death Studies to provide an innovative framework to view the body politic metaphor. By reviewing select eighteenth-century British antiquarian poetry, essays, plays, travel literature, and periodical reviews concerning Scandinavian-inspired death and ritual, DEATHRIT will establish Scandinavia's role in developing Britain's body politic on a local and European stage.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2023-PF-01

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Coordinator

KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Net EU contribution
€ 214 934,40
Address
NORREGADE 10
1165 KOBENHAVN
Denmark
Region
Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
No data