The Performance of Viking Identity in Museums

Drawing on theories from history, philosophy, museology, and sociology, the book analyses how the Viking myth is used by visitors to make sense of present-day society, culture, and politics and the role of museums in this meaning-making process. Demonstrating that the Viking myth is present in collective memory and plays an important role in the construction and modification of collective, national, and personal identities, the book analyses this process through the framework of museums and their visitors. Identifying museums as places where heritage, identity and social norms are affirmed and reflected upon, Whitehead demonstrates that all countries use their Viking heritage to define their identity on a local and international level - through tourist attractions such as museums and other Viking-related monuments and merchandise.
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