Inspiration drawn from the Middle Ages can be found in many forms of modern pop culture. In fact, so-called ‘neomedievalism’ has emerged onto the global scene, and has become almost as widespread...Show moreInspiration drawn from the Middle Ages can be found in many forms of modern pop culture. In fact, so-called ‘neomedievalism’ has emerged onto the global scene, and has become almost as widespread and as often referenced as when the Roman and Greek cultures were rediscovered during the Italian Renaissance. Neomedievalism is described as the postmodern ‘use’ of medieval cultures which often deliberately denies historical accuracy and is usually a nostalgic or romanticized version - or a crude representation - of medieval culture. This way of appropriating medieval themes and stories is possible because it is still “productive in the contemporary imagination”. This claim is substantiated by the popularity of countless medieval-inspired TV-series, films, medieval-styled ‘role playing games’, books such as J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book and TV series - and of course music containing neomedievalist themes. This thesis will explore the role of neomedievalism in Viking Metal, Anglo-Saxon Metal and Neofolk, to find out how neomedievalism fits in with the counter-culture of these music subgenres.Show less
This thesis researches the attraction which religion in The Elder Scrolls game series has for players of the game and how this reflects on modern society, by categorizing the game's religions using...Show moreThis thesis researches the attraction which religion in The Elder Scrolls game series has for players of the game and how this reflects on modern society, by categorizing the game's religions using Robert Bellah's theory on religious evolution. From this it can be concluded that there exists a religious ideal in TES, which is much like neomedievalism and the role it plays in modern society. The TES religionism is a combination of a nostalgic longing for the past and our post-modern worldview, which is a very popular formula in the modern disenchanted world.Show less
