Paper short abstract:

A recent wave of Nordic Noir has been invaded by spiritual stewards of nature. Similar folklore motifs are evoked locally through rite and narration in the wake of forest fires. The paper discusses how processes of re-enchantment shape imaginary and physical forests in the context of Anthropocene.

Paper long abstract:

The Scandinavian scenes for contemporary art and popular culture have recently been invaded by spiritual stewards of nature and other magical presences. These super natural beings are often portrayed as hidden survivors of another time in late modernity and/or as revengeful protectors of nature. A striking return of folklore themes thus seems to relate to the threats of climate change and challenge clear cut dichotomies of evil and good, nature and culture, humanity and "the rest".

In the unusually hot summer of 2014 a devastating forest fire scarred the Swedish landscape of Västmanland: a region just off the tourist trails of Dalarna and with a high rate of unemployment, growing political polarization and a history of resource extraction that historically as well has led to deforestation.

This paper explores the potential of folklore to local communities and curious "forest fire tourists" who seek to re-orient in the wake of the recent loss.

I will examplify how folklore themes, similar to those of highly profiled Nordic Noir, materialize beyond the urban art scenes. How does the interplay of rite and oral history in small scale communities relate to the threats of Anthropocene? Is it possible that mourning local agents and visitors to this region unite in the evocation and/or reinvention of the haunting presences of burned forest?