Mýrin: Symposium
8.30-15.50
Symposium Friday 12th of October: Lectures and panel discussions on current topics in children’s literature
In relation to this years Mýrin Festival, The Nordic House is happy to host a symposium with various lectures and panel discussions on current topics in children’s literature.
The symposium starts at 8.30 with coffee and registration as well as a welcome from the First Lady of Iceland, Eliza Jean Reid. It ends at 15.50, with the possibility to experience our current exhibition ‘Animals No-one has seen except us’ or take a stroll down in our Children’s Book Exhibition. The programme is varied, with international and national lecturers. You can find the programme in it’s full length here: Programme Mýrin 2018 ENGLISH
Here is a sneak peak from the programme.
NATURE IN THE NORTH – ECO-CRITICISM IN CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Do current affairs in society find their way into children’s books? How does today’s children’s literature deal with climate change and environmental issues? A lecture by professor Dagný Kristjánsdóttir with contributions by the Icelandic writers Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir, Aðalsteinn Ásberg Sigurðsson and Hjörleifur Hjartarson.
THE RE-CREATION AND USE OF CULTURAL HERITAGE IN NORDIC CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH LITERATURE
A seminar on how cultural heritage, and Nordic mythology in particular, is used as an inspiration in today’s literature for young people. Ármann Jakobsson (IS), Malene Sølvsten (DK), Peter Madsen (DK), Ragnheiður Eyjólfsdóttir (IS), Siri Pettersen (NO) talk about their own work and Dr. Janina Orlov (SE/FI) discusses the use of myths and nature from a Finnish-Swedish perspective. Moderator: Kristín Ragna Gunnarsdóttir
EVIL, DARKNESS AND HUMOUR – TRENDS IN NORDIC CHILDREN’S LITERATURE
Should children be confronted with problems, evil and despair in the books they read? Danish author Rasmus Bregnhøi will talk about his satirical comic series “Rasmus writes a Nordic children’s book,” literary scholar Kjersti Lersbryggen Mørk from Norway gives a lecture about her research on evil in children’s literature and Icelandic writer Þórdís Gísladóttir will talk about humour in her books. Moderator: Guðrún Lára Pétursdóttir
CHILDREN’S BOOKS AS BRIDGES BETWEEN DIFFERENT CULTURES
Can stories provide shelter? Can books open doors and build bridges between people and cultures? Writer and illustrator Marit Törnqvist (NL/SE) tells about her projects
with refugee children and writer Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir (IS) will talk about her novel Vertu ósýnilegur – Flóttasaga Ishmaels, a story that gives insight into the
perspective of a child refugee coming to Iceland.
