Paper short abstract:

In this paper I aim to analyze the link made between enchantment and nature, especially the forest, in contemporary Nordic societies - and how the sense of enchantment can be found in quite unexpected places like tourist attractions.

Paper long abstract:

Far from the disenchantment world predicted by Max Weber, the contemporary world is, and has always been, perceived as enchanted although both the notions and medium might have changed.

I aim to analyze the link made between enchantment and nature, especially the forest, in contemporary Nordic societies - and also how the sense of enchantment can be found in quite unexpected places like tourist attractions. Motifs in folklore, children’s literature and fantasy literature are used to create the illusion of The Enchanted Forest (Trolska skogen) - a tourist attraction based on Swedish folklore located in Hälsingland, Sweden - as a magical place. Narratives created between visitors and actors are used to reimagine a future in which humans can fight climate changes and live in harmony with the earth. These notions are intertwined with the view of the past as a utopic time with less stress and closer relationship with nature than today. The forest is pictured as an animated place, not just within the frames of the tourist attraction but also outside of it. At the same time fairy tales are linked to science, both in the narrative itself and in the ideals conveyed to the visitors.

This will be discussed from an interdisciplinary point of view with theoretical inspiration from folkloristics, religious studies and literary studies, with special focus on Christopher Partridge´s ideas of correlations between folklore, re-enchantment and popular culture and Donna Haraway´s thoughts on nature and science.

Tora Wall

Nordic Folkloristics at Åbo Academy University

Contact: torawall@gmail.com