Norwegian anthropology conferences are different

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24/05/06

02:37:07, by Lorenz

. Categories: anthropology (general), University / Academia

Norwegian anthropology conferences are different

Back from the annual conference of the Norwegian Anthropological Association, I must say that I prefer Norwegian conferences to British ones - at least regarding the way papers are presented. While papers in Britian are read - in a formal (and mostly boring) way, papers in Norway are presented in an more oral way. The audience expectes you to make them smile or (even better) laugh - otherwise you aren't regarded as a good paper-giver. "I could have listened to him for several hours", many participants said after the presentation by Edvar Hviding about fishermen on the Solomon Islands (many brilliant pictures!). Many great presentations!

Maybe culture can explain something here? Norwegian society is quite egalitarian compared to other countries and academics are frequently present in mainstream media. You are expected to be "folkelig" - meaning "like normal people" and tear down the walls between academia and the people outside.

How To Present A Paper - or Can Anthropologists Talk?

PS: By the way, Antropyton announced that she's going to share her thoughts about the conference with us (I'll be blogging in Norwegian only).

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5 comments

Comment from: Aleksandra [Visitor] · http://www.antropyton.blogspot.com

Hi, funny you've mentioned egalitarianism because I'm just writing an article to Antropress about relationships in academia (a little manifesto for anthropology students who still do not participate in these meetings

. I hope it will be in the coming issue.
Antropyton has 3 exams yet so it will not be much blogging this week.

2006-05-24 @ 17:57

Comment from: Lorenz [Member]

· http://www.antropologi.info

Cool. Will be interesting to read. Good luck with your exams. There won't be much blogging here either, many deadlines are approaching...

2006-05-24 @ 19:04

Comment from: Bryan McKay [Visitor] · http://bryanmckay.com/blog

Norwegian society is quite egalitarian compared to other countries and academics are frequently present in mainstream media. You are expected to be "folkelig" - meaning "like normal people" and tear down the walls between academia and the people outside.

This seems far better than the way things work here in America. Academics are not held in particularly high regard by the mainstream public. They're generally thought of to be stuck-up intellectual types (which, granted, many are) or otherwise irrelevant. I think it is important for there to be a continual dialogue between academia and the public, but sadly that doesn't seem to be the case here.

2006-05-24 @ 20:04

Comment from: Terry Fitzsimmons [Visitor]

I am looking for help or suggestions in identifying the nationality and perhaps identification of a person whose image is etched into an amber stone in a personal gold seal that I own. The seal dates back to 18th or 19th century,and experts here in US believe it is Norse in origin. I found it while gardening in my yard in San Diego, CA US. about 30 years ago, together with a Spanish coin dated 1736.

I have both images on a CD and would be glad to e mail them to anyone who would like to see them.
Terry
Santa Fe, NM USA

2007-08-13 @ 11:58

Comment from: Lorenz [Member]

· http://www.antropologi.info

Hi Terry, it's better to ask questions that are not related to a post in the forum - see here http://www.antropologi.info/anthropology/forum/

2007-08-16 @ 21:56

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