Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how the Norwegian documentary films North of the Sun (2012) and Bear Island (2014) by Inge Wegge deploy the historical imaginary of the Arctic, and how the topos of the polar hero is impacted by themes of seasonality, climate change and environmental crisis.

Paper long abstract:

The topos of the polar hero (and Arctic experience as a part of national pride) has a long tradition in Norway. In my paper, I examine how this history of representation is instrumentalised and subverted in the award-winning documentary films Nordfor Sola (North of the Sun, Norway 2012) and Bjørn øya (Bear Island, Norway 2014) by Inge Wegge. I will investigate how the films deploy the historical imaginary of the Arctic, and how the function of the polar hero is impacted by themes of seasonality, climate change and environmental crisis. What contradictions arise from traditional stereotypes of Arctic adventure and an environmentally conscious view of the changeable and changing Arctic? What potential for reflection do these contradictions offer, and to what extent does the topos of the polar hero continue to serve as a popular ideal in evoking environmentally conscious behaviour? Do representations of changing seasons and of a dynamic Arctic landscape have the potential to change our imagination of Arctic adventures and heroism?