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 aimed to provide an answer to the question: “What was the Scandinavian influence on the burial rites practised in Britain between 800-1200 AD?” A background has been established by...Show moreThis thesis aimed to provide an answer to the question: “What was the Scandinavian influence on the burial rites practised in Britain between 800-1200 AD?” A background has been established by examining the situation in Anglo-Saxon Britain and Scandinavia alike. The situation was quite complex in the British Isles. The Christian Anglo-Saxons still practised funerary rites outside cemeteries and graves often still contained small amounts of grave goods. The situation in Scandinavia was also very complex because the Scandinavians themselves maintained a large scale of varied burial practices in which local variation and identity played important roles. The answer to the research question is thus not simple to give. While there are several graves in Britain that show a remarkable amount of Scandinavian influence, other graves are more ambiguous. The influence of the Scandinavians seems to be limited to first and maybe second generation of settlers in the ninth and tenth centuries AD. However, the concept of social persona can help us recognize the complex of identities represented in deviant burials and find their place in the funerary record of Britain.Show less
