Popular Culture Overview
While Norse lore references and imitations of Vikings is common in today's popular culture, regardless of whether these images are accurate, this was not always so. Icelandic texts, such as the Poetica Edda and Prose Edda, were scarcely known outside Scandinavia until around the 19th century. (Wikipedia) It was during this time in which Norse mythology began to gain popularity and was widely publicized and, therefore, soon integrated into European literature (Wikipedia). After this, during the 20th century, references and direct aspect of Norse mythology became common in science fiction and fantasy literature, games, and other pop cultural products(wiki), as it proved profitable to commercialism (Wolf, 2004, p.3).
But how exactly did the Viking image become so popular? Why are the Viking Age such and alluring subject and what exactly is it that makes people today so interested?
But how exactly did the Viking image become so popular? Why are the Viking Age such and alluring subject and what exactly is it that makes people today so interested?
The Expansion of the Viking Image
Victorian Era
All the myths from the Viking age, such as the horned helmets, dragons ships, magical runes, and prophecies, and the rising popularity and interest in the Viking age come from the 19th century (return). This is do to a few pioneers who opened the gateways into Norse mythology and helped contemporary users understand, or at least, become acquainted, with the idea and life styles, of the Vikings.
George Webbe Dasent brought Norse mythology back on the radar in Germany and England by translating a few sagas and publishing them in The Times (Wikipedia).
William Morris, located in Britain at the time, also translated Icelandic sagas into English and some of his poetry contained Norse characters and references (Wikipedia).
In the following years the image in many of the products we see today were invented by the Victorians. In fact, the word Viking first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1807. In the first half of the following century, there was a massive production of poems, plays, books, scholarly investigations, translations, and musical creations, all in celebration of the Vikings (Richards, 2013).
Some people even thought that the Queen Victoria was a descendant of the Nordic peoples (Richards, 2013).
Present
Though most of the Viking image that the Victorian's created has remain the same, it has underwent some change and recent exploits have been trying to reenact a more accurate contemporary vision of the Vikings. This resurgence of interest, as explained above, began in the Victorian era, due to a rise of racial science studies with Nordic people capping it off, and the popularity of romanticism during the Romantic movement. (Richards, 2013 It is through these events that the Vikings have been brought back to the modern age. Why they remain so popular today, though, is another matter.
Despite the cultural transformation and reassessment, the Nordic tribes have retained there power to attract and intrigue us. This could be due to their mysterious culture or because of their masculine, heroic portrayal (Richards, 2013). Vikings are the epitome of masculine ideals (Wolf,2004, p.3), and this is an age that glorifies masculinity and power. This masculine ideal started in the 20th century and was glorified by films like Conan and Rambo and took a more positive turn after the feminist movement in the 50's debunked the idea of chivalry as a popular characteristic. Instead the image of a heroic, but somewhat gentlemen like, barbarian, took flight (Richards, 2013).
Today, a new view of the Vikings is being developed by historians, as displayed in the TV shows Vikings. However, these reworkings of the Victorian myths, retain their idealistic masculine image. Some would argue this is because were are in an age where there is a 'crisis of masculinity', due to economic recession and mass unemployment (Richards, 2013).
All the myths from the Viking age, such as the horned helmets, dragons ships, magical runes, and prophecies, and the rising popularity and interest in the Viking age come from the 19th century (return). This is do to a few pioneers who opened the gateways into Norse mythology and helped contemporary users understand, or at least, become acquainted, with the idea and life styles, of the Vikings.
George Webbe Dasent brought Norse mythology back on the radar in Germany and England by translating a few sagas and publishing them in The Times (Wikipedia).
William Morris, located in Britain at the time, also translated Icelandic sagas into English and some of his poetry contained Norse characters and references (Wikipedia).
In the following years the image in many of the products we see today were invented by the Victorians. In fact, the word Viking first appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1807. In the first half of the following century, there was a massive production of poems, plays, books, scholarly investigations, translations, and musical creations, all in celebration of the Vikings (Richards, 2013).
Some people even thought that the Queen Victoria was a descendant of the Nordic peoples (Richards, 2013).
Present
Though most of the Viking image that the Victorian's created has remain the same, it has underwent some change and recent exploits have been trying to reenact a more accurate contemporary vision of the Vikings. This resurgence of interest, as explained above, began in the Victorian era, due to a rise of racial science studies with Nordic people capping it off, and the popularity of romanticism during the Romantic movement. (Richards, 2013 It is through these events that the Vikings have been brought back to the modern age. Why they remain so popular today, though, is another matter.
Despite the cultural transformation and reassessment, the Nordic tribes have retained there power to attract and intrigue us. This could be due to their mysterious culture or because of their masculine, heroic portrayal (Richards, 2013). Vikings are the epitome of masculine ideals (Wolf,2004, p.3), and this is an age that glorifies masculinity and power. This masculine ideal started in the 20th century and was glorified by films like Conan and Rambo and took a more positive turn after the feminist movement in the 50's debunked the idea of chivalry as a popular characteristic. Instead the image of a heroic, but somewhat gentlemen like, barbarian, took flight (Richards, 2013).
Today, a new view of the Vikings is being developed by historians, as displayed in the TV shows Vikings. However, these reworkings of the Victorian myths, retain their idealistic masculine image. Some would argue this is because were are in an age where there is a 'crisis of masculinity', due to economic recession and mass unemployment (Richards, 2013).
Examples
Games
Skyrim
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Tomb Raider
Final Fantasy XIII
Other references:
In Halo Master Chief has armor called mjolnir.
World of Warcraft has multiple references.
Runescape has several missions related to Vikings and contains references throughout the game.
In Halo Master Chief has armor called mjolnir.
World of Warcraft has multiple references.
Runescape has several missions related to Vikings and contains references throughout the game.
TV
Vikings
Xena: Warrior Princess
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Xena often comes in contact with Odin and his Valkyries.
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Other references:
Stargate SG-1 has an Asgard race and Thor inspired characters.
Dr. Who makes references to the twilight of the gods.
Supernatural has referenced the Norse vanir and a few episodes believed a trickster was Loki.
Stargate SG-1 has an Asgard race and Thor inspired characters.
Dr. Who makes references to the twilight of the gods.
Supernatural has referenced the Norse vanir and a few episodes believed a trickster was Loki.
Movies
Thor
J.R.R. Tolkien
How to Train Your Dragon
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Other
The Harry Potter character Fenrir Greyback is based on Norse mythology.
Rick Riordan is planning on doing a series with Norse mythology.
There is a manga series called Ragnarok
Rick Riordan is planning on doing a series with Norse mythology.
There is a manga series called Ragnarok