AASSC NEWSLETTER. President s Remarks. Dear AASSC Members and Friends!

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1 AASSC NEWSLETTER A P R I L N O 5 8 A S S O C I A T I O N F O R T H E A D V A N C E M E N T O F S C A N D I N A V I A N S T U D I E S I N C A N A D A L A S S O C I A T I O N P O U R L A V A N C E M E N T D E S É T U D E S S C A N D I N A V E S A U C A N A D A I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : News from The President Viking Congress L Anse Aux Meadows AASSC Conference 3 Last Call Norwegian Travel Grants 7 Icelandic Excavations in Manitoba Swedish Cultural Events in North America Geopolitics in the Baltic Region 8 Killam Teaching Prize to Lena Karlström Pictures from the SASS conference in Seattle AASSC Info and Adresses 12 President s Remarks Dear AASSC Members and Friends! In tough economic times, research often takes a back seat to market forces. This is especially true of research in our fields, the Social Sciences and Humanities. To the general public, and also to legislators, much of our work rates as esoteric and of little practical or economic value. Yet, as pointed out by the President of CFHSS, Noreen Golfman, the economic and social value of our work produces almost as much economic activity as the industries relying on s cience, technology, engineering, and medicine. We are all involved in research of one form or another. Dr. Ellen Bialystok stated in a recent Globe and Mail interview, Research moves forward in teeny-weeny steps and then these steps produce something that seems to be incredible. Dr. Bialystok, a psychologist at York University, was awarded this year s Killam Prize for her discovery that bilingualism develops the cognitive reserve of the brain. Some of our research may not have the same universal application, but every little piece adds to our understanding of the world. It is also important that we let others know of our work, within and beyond our individual communication lines. The venue afforded us by the Congress is a welcome window for maintaining personal contacts, establishing new ones and sharing our accomplishments. The digital world is a constantly changing and developing avenue. The technology on which our website was built in 2002, is by now out of date to the point that it can no longer be easily managed. A new one is being developed under the direction of our Newsletter editor Mads Bunch. It should be ready in May. It will have a fresh look, with more images, and be more flexible for inserting new items as need arises. Another novelty, also initiated by Mads, is that we are setting up a Paypal account, so that members will be able to pay their fees online, should they wish. This may be of special value to our overseas members. Also new is an AASSC Facebook page for those who prefer this mode of communication. As for the past three years, Errol Durbach has developed a stimulating conference program. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Toril Moy, well known for her work on feminist literature, is being featured as a special Congress speaker. I hope to see many of you at Concordia University May 28 to 31! Birgitta Wallace, President, AASSC

2 P A G E 2 Viking Congress The 16 th Viking Congress took place in Reykjavik and at Reykholt August program/. Birgitta Wallace reports from the 16th Viking congress in Reykjavik 2009 and about the new exhibits at L Anse Aux Meadows The Congress included about seventy experts on different aspects of Viking culture, working in the British Isles, Ireland, and each of the Nordic countries, including the Faeroes and Greenland. A reconstruction of the house believed to have been Eirík the Red's home in Iceland. Birgitta Wallace was invited as the opening lecturer to speak on L Anse aux Meadows: Different Disciplines, Divergent Views. The Congress takes place every four years, circulating from country to country. This year it was followed by excursions to the most significant sites in Icelandic history, some of them destroyed by volcanic eruptions. Especially eerie was the trip to the farmstead Husholmi. During an eruption in 1151 the farm was abandoned when all its fields were covered in a thick layer of lava, which still makes the hike there a challenge. However, the lava had been stopped by the walls of the buildings, so their interiors remain as open grassy patches in the bleak landscape. New Exhibits at L Anse Aux Meadows National Historic Site Early this summer new exhibits will open at L Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site. The exhibits promise to be visually exciting and focus on the site itself. Since the early 1980s, when the old exhibits were installed, research on the evidence from L Anse aux Meadows, as well as recent work in Iceland and Greenland, have given us a new perspective on L Anse aux Meadows. It is now possible to outline the role of the site in relation to the Vinland sagas. The exhibits will also highlight the

3 A P R I L N O 5 8 five different native occupations on the site before and after the Norse. P A G E 3 This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the discovery of the site by Helge Ingstad. Parks Canada Agency will host a celebration in L Anse aux Meadows on July 21, the day of Helge s arrival there. The initial excavations at L Anse aux Meadows were directed by his wife, Anne Stine Ingstad, in the years 1961 to Next AASSC Conference May 28th - May 31st 2010 in Montreal AASSC Conference Program Montreal AASSC ANNUAL MEETING, May 28th to May 31 st 2010 Concordia University, Montreal Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences Congrès des sciences humaines FRIDAY/VENDREDI 28 MAY/MAI All meetings will be held in the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Complex (EV) at 1515 St-Catherine Ouest AM Delegates arrive and register PM : Executive meeting EV : CINS (Canadian Institute for Nordic Studies) Welcome Reception ROOM: EV Errol Durbach, Vice-President

4 P A G E 4 ROOM: EV SATURDAY/SAMEDI 29 MAY/MAI AM 9.00: Welcome to delegates, BIRGITTA WALLACE, AASSC President, (Parks Canada) CHAIR: JOHN TUCKER (University of Victoria) : SESSION 1 /1re SÉANCE: ARCTIC MYTH / IMAGES OF THE NORTH CHAIR: SANDRA SAARI (Rochester Institute of Technology) Keynote Speaker Toril Moi will talk about Fantasy and Realism in Little Eyolf SUSAN GOLD/SMITH (University of Windsor) and INGRID URBERG (University of Alberta - Augustana Campus): The Construction and Challenging of Arctic Myths in Wanny Wolstad s Creative Work [a collaborative paper] : Coffee Break / Pause Café : SESSION 2 / 2e SÉANCE: CINS KEYNOTE ADDRESS CHAIR: BIRGITTA WALLACE (Parks Canada) TORIL MOI (Duke University): " Something That Might Resemble a Kind of Love : Fantasy and Realism in Henrik Ibsen s Little Eyolf." PM : WORKING LUNCH with representatives from the Nordic Embassies in EV : SESSION 3 / 3e SÉANCE: IBSEN CHAIR: GURLI WOODS (Carleton University) SANDRA SAARI (Rochester Institute of Technology): The Face of Mopseman: Representation of the Compelling in Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf. ERROL DURBACH (University of British Columbia): The myth of the Paradise Garden in The Cherry Orchard, Miss Julie, and The Wild Duck. ELISABETH KIÆRBYE (freelance teacher and lecturer, Denmark): Relationships: Henrik Ibsen s Contemporary Drama, a study of romantic relationships. A A S S C N E W S L E T T E R

5 A P R I L N O 5 8 P A G E : Coffee Break / Pause Café : SESSION 4 / 4e SÉANCE: DANISH/GERMAN and DAN- ISH/GEORGIAN CHAIR: MADS BUNCH (University of British Columbia) CHARLES WEBSTER (University of Wisconsin-Madison): Identity and Language Maintenance Among Minorities in the Danish-German Border Region MARINA ALLEMANO (University of Alberta): Rasmus Rask Revived: A Study of Hanne Marie Svendsen s Novel Rudimenter af R (2009) : AASSC and Canadian-Scandinavian Foundation Smørrebrødfest at Den Danske Klub, The Canadian Legion, 5455 de Maisonneuve Street West. ROOM: EV 2-204/238/260 SUNDAY/DIMANCHE 30 MAY/MAI AM : SESSION 5 / 5e SÉANCE: OUT OF ICELAND Bergman and Strindberg (re) considered CHAIR: LAURIE BERTRAM (University of Toronto): Much did I long for kaffi : Coffee, power, and desire in the Icelandic Canadian community, NATALIE VAN DEUSEN (University of Wisconsin-Madison): On the Production of a Digital Edition of Mortu saga ok Maríu Magdalenu : Coffee Break / Pause Café : SESSION 6 / 6e SÉANCE: BERGMAN AND STRINDBERG (RE)CONSIDERED CHAIR: HARRY LANE (University of Guelph) MARILYN BLACKWELL (Ohio State University): "SCTV's Ingmar Bergman Parody." GURLI WOODS (Carleton University): "Strindberg s Play Ett drömspel in Merete Morken Andersen s Novel Mandel (2005)." : Lunch / Déjeuner PM : SESSION 7 / 7E SÉANCE: SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES AT U. ALBERTA

6 P A G E 6 CHAIR: MARINA ALLEMANO (University of Alberta): CHRISTOPHER HALE (University of Alberta): Bella Coola and Its Norwegian Settlement. PER RUDLING (University of Alberta): " Scientific Racism in Sweden and its influence in Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union : SESSION 8 /8E SÉANCE: KAREN BLIXEN and HENNING MANKELL CHAIR: SUSAN GOLD/SMITH (University of Windsor) MADS BUNCH (University of British Columbia): Karen Blixen s Carnival in the light of Kierkegaard. Concluding AASSC discussion session about Henning Mankells Fiction moderated by Susan Gold and HARRY LANE (University of Guelph): Henning Mankell s Italian Shoes as a Bildungsroman of Old Age : Coffee Break / Pause Café : SESSION 9 / 9E SÉANCE: COMPARATIVE STUDIES: CA- NADIAN-SCANDINAVIAN NOTIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY and CUL- TURAL IDENTITY CHAIR: INGRID URBERG (University of Alberta - Augustana Campus) TIM FRANDY (University of Wisconsin and University of Lapland): Informal Economy and Sustainability in the North: The Clash Between Home- Harvesters and Sportsmen. MICHAEL LANGE (Champlain College): Teaching Identity: Shifting Cultural Touchstones in the Classroom. Harry Lane MONDAY / LUNDI 31 MAY/MAI ROOM: EV 2-204/238/260 AM : ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING : Coffee Break / Pause Café : SESSION 10 / 10E SÉANCE: THE MUSIC OF GRIEG CHAIR: MARILYN BLACKWELL (Ohio State University): DEREK YAPLE-SCHOBERT (Canadian/American pianist): : Norwegian Nationalism in the Piano Music of Edvard Grieg. A A S S C N E W S L E T T E R

7 A P R I L N O 5 8 P A G E 7 LUNCH: followed by a discussion of Henning Mankell. Participants in this discussion should buy their lunch, and then return to the room for an informal group discussion : INFORMAL SESSION: HENNING MANKELL: BEYOND THE POLICE PROCEDURAL? MODERATORS: SUSAN GOLD/SMITH (University of Windsor) and HARRY LANE (University of Guelph) In this session, we are invited to discuss what is distinctive about Henning Mankell s fiction. For example, are there elements in his mystery novels that enable them to transcend the traditional rudiments of the genre elements such as complexity of character, a focus on social alienation, on betrayed or unfulfilled dreams, or a concern with ethical, political, and social issues? (Mankell reportedly told Michael Ondaatje that in Faceless Killers he'd started out writing a crime novel only because it was the most convenient way to make [...] points about racism ; he has described the Wallander books as thematic variations about problems facing Swedish democracy and its welfare state.) Do such elements also inform Mankell s writing when he moves the action beyond the provincial town of Ystad in the novels set in the Swedish archipelago, in those set in Africa and on the world stage, and in his fiction for young readers? No special expertise is necessary to attend this session (the moderators certainly claim none). Just bring your thoughts and your interest. Welcome in Montreal! Errol Durbach, Vice-President NB! Norwegian Travel Grants DEADLINE MAY 1ST The Royal Norwegian Embassy offers travel grants to AASSC members who wish to travel to Norway to attend seminars, conferences, or university courses, to establish or renew academic contacts, or to do research, gather scientific information, books, teaching material and so on. The grants are awarded to applicants who actively work for the promotion of Norwegian studies in Canada or at individual academic institutions. Applications, including a cv and a proposal for the use of the grant, must reach the embassy by May 1st of each year: Royal Norwegian Embassy Attn: Mrs. Wenche Linneboe 90 Sparks Street, Suite 532 Ottawa, ON K1P 5B4 emb-ottawa@mfa.no Fax: (613)

8 P A G E 8 Icelandic Excavations in Manitoba Icelandic student Águsta Ewald, a Ph.D candidate in Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, will conduct excavations this summer of an Icelandic immigrant farm near Riverton in Manitoba. Her project is to compare this site to Hornbrekka, a farm from the same period in Skagafjörður in northern Iceland and the home of Manitoba immigrants. The adjustment the immigrants faced in environment, climate, culture and language was substantial. The physical remains at both places can complement the written records and provide alternative views and perspectives on past lives and livelihoods. Feature Article by Jan Lundgren about the Growing Geopolitical Tensions in the Baltic Sea Region Swedish Cultural Events in North America The Embassy of Sweden in Canada has a calendar of Swedish Cultural events. Check it out here on the Embassy s website: CalendarView aspx Geopolitics are Heating up in the Baltic Sea Region A A S S C N E W S L E T T E R

9 A P R I L N O 5 8 P A G E 9 In a recent issue of Scandinavian Studies (Vol. 18, ) Michael Jasinski reviews Clive Archer s study, New Security Issues in Northern Europe the Nordic and Baltic Sates, some hefty 250 pages, which analyses the extent to which the European Security and Defence Policy (=ESDP) has been changed/modified since 1990, THE benchmark year for not only northern European affairs but also for Europe as a whole. His conclusions: things are not too bad, have even in some cases become better, although today there is a Russian flag at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, due to the German-Russian natural gas pipeline project, which is going ahead, in spite of very critical comments by both the Nordic Bloc, but also from the Baltic States. Still the project is proceeding, in spite of the bad reputation that any German-Russian treaty tends to have, at least in the eyes and minds of the different and astute geopolitical souls that habitate this northern sector of Europe. Whether the above was cause celebre at the Summer meeting of the two most powerful of the Nordic stake holder countries on Baltic shores, no one knows : the full governments of Sweden and Finland met, talked, dined and wined in mid June 2009 in historical Hämenlinna / Tavastehus - albeit with a minimum of public fanfare and even less journalistic reporting of the grand event. The two national cabinet parties seemed to have enjoyed a good weekend - the weather was just fine. Presumably, one topic - perhaps on the agenda - was the 200 years Commemoration of the 2009 Swedish/ Finnish-Russian war, which resulted in a geopolitical rockard : Sweden lost Finland to Russia s Tsar, but received as compensation gift - replacement Norway, a geopolitical deal that lasted a century or so before the present order of Nordic states was achieved in 1920 : Finland liberated itself from the Soviet Russia, while Norway got its independence from Sweden already in 1906! So, the Swedish Finnish Summer party signified, perhaps, a part of the Nordic states mosaic in the Baltic Sea region, whatever that means! It is interesting to contrast the above with a lengthy article in the Baltic Worlds Journal, Dec. 2009, Vol. II:3-4, published by the Centre for Baltic and Eastern Studies ( CBEES), at Södertörn University, Stockholm. The geopolitical friction generated by the German-Russian pipeline entente has been met with great concern in a lengthy article by A.Hellner and Ragni Svensson : Natural gas makes Russia stronger ( p in fine print and three column page format ). The concerns raised are major, as the authors view the geo-consequences of the energy deal, where the long-term principal flaw lies in central European energy dependency: Russia in past decades never hesitated to use its direct grip on pipeline control valves for supplies destined for central Europe, which in the past has been of great concern to countries such as Poland, the Check Rep. - and the dormant Baltic States - which makes many states around the Baltic Sea uneasy. Another consequence of being in the German-Russian fix : countries with no particular domestic energy potential might consider switching a greater portion of their respective domestic energy production /supply development into the nuclear energy sector, which represents a major, underused, future national energy potential. Jan O.Lundgren, ( retired prof.), Geography Dept. McGill University

10 P A G E 10 Killam Teaching Prize Awarded to Lena Karlström at The University of British Columbia April 2010 Swedish Lecturer Lena Kartlström, who solemly has been in charge of the second largest Swedish Language Program in North America since the early 1990s, was awarded the prestigious Killam Teaching Prize in April 2010 for her outstanding achievement as a lecturer at The University of British Columbia. The 60 first year Swedish Language Course students starting every year, and more than 20 students on her second year course and full literature courses speak for itself. Congratualitons from the AASSC. Pictures from the SASS Centennial Mads Bunch has taken these pictures from the SASSS Centennial Conference in Seattle, April A great conference and a milestone for the association. This time a joint venture with The Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, which worked really well. Left: Ann-Charlotte Gavel Adams welcoming the members at the opening reception. Right: Members at the Scandinavian Foundation reception on the last evening. A A S S C N E W S L E T T E R

11 A P R I L N O 5 8 P A G E 11 Top left: Claus Elholm Andersen preparing for his talk. Top right: Discussion at one of the sessions. Mid left: SASS President Jason Lavery and AABS President Guntis Smidchens at their joint conference closing talk. Mid right: Banquet participants. Bot. left: Banquet last evening. Bot. right: The band that got people out on the dance floor later on.

12 AASSC Info & Adresses AASSC EXECUTIVE COMMITEE PRESIDENT: Birgitta Wallace, Parks Canada Agency, 7 Lady Slipper Drive, Halifax, NS B3J 1S9, Tel. (902) , Fax (902) , birwallace@eastlink.ca VICE-PRESIDENT: Errol Durbach, Dept. of Theatre, Film & Creative Writing, University of British Columbia, 1866 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1; Tel. (604) ; Fax: (604) , edurbach@interchange.ubc.ca TREASURER: Per Rudling, Dept. of History & Classics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E6, parudling@ualberta.ca SECRETARY: John Lingard, Cape Breton University, 84 Braemar Drive Westmount, NS B1R 1V9, Tel EDITOR, SCANDINAVIAN-CANADIAN STUDIES: John Tucker, Department of English, U. of Victoria, POB 3070, Victoria, B.C. V8W 3W1; Tel. (250) ; Fax (250) ; jtucker@uvic.ca PAST PRESIDENT: Susan Gold/Smith, School of Visual Arts, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, N9B 3P4; Tel. (519) x 2845; Fax (510) ; sgold@uwindsor.ca MEMBERS AT LARGE Börje Vähämäki, University of Toronto., 39 Queen s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3, Tel. (750) ;, Fax (705) ; bvahamaki@rogers.com Laurie Bertram, Department of History, University of Toronto, 39 Queen s Park Crescent East, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3; laurie.bertram@utoronto.ca Ingrid Urberg, Scandinavian Studies, Augustana Faculty, University of Alberta Avenue, Camrose, AB T4V 2R3, Tel ; iurberg@augustana.ca NEWSLETTER EDITOR Mads Bunch, Department of Central, Eastern and Northern European Studies, University of British Columbia, 215 Buchanan Tower, 1873 East Mall, V6T 1Z1, Tel. (778) ; mads.bunch@gmail.com AASSC WEBSITE NORDIC EMBASSIES IN CANADA Royal Danish Embassy, 47 Clarence Street, Suite 450, Ottawa, ON, K1N 9K1; Tel. (613) ; Fax: (613) ; wensh@um.dk (Wenche Ainer Sharp, Press & Cultural Affairs); Embassy of Finland, 55 Metcalfe St., Suite 850, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6L5; Tel. (613) ; Fax: (613) ; embassy@finland.ca Embassy of Iceland, Suite 710, 360 Albert St. Ottawa, ON, K1R 7X7; Tel. (613) ; Fax: (613) ; Royal Norwegian Embassy, 150 Metcalfe Street, Suite 1300, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 1P1, Tel: (613) ; Fax: (613) ; emb.ottawa@mfa.no; Embassy of Sweden, 377 Dalhousie St., Ottawa, ON, K1N 9N8; Tel. (613) ; Fax: (613) ; (Magnus Schönning, First Secretary, Press & Cultural Affairs)