Health Through the Space Lens
The article discusses cultural perceptions and interpretations of health and illness in a Svalbard context through the analysis of the novels Longyearbyen (2020) by the Norwegian writer Heidi Sævareid and The Arctic Novel (1964) by the Soviet writer Vladlen Anchishkin. Both novels use Svalbard of t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Septentrio Academic Publishing
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Poljarnyj Vestnik: Norwegian Journal of Slavic Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/vestnik/article/view/6572 |
| _version_ | 1811243850045325312 |
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| author | Turid Austin Wæhler |
| author_facet | Turid Austin Wæhler |
| author_sort | Turid Austin Wæhler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
The article discusses cultural perceptions and interpretations of health and illness in a Svalbard context through the analysis of the novels Longyearbyen (2020) by the Norwegian writer Heidi Sævareid and The Arctic Novel (1964) by the Soviet writer Vladlen Anchishkin. Both novels use Svalbard of the 1950s as a setting for portraying issues related to health and illness.
It is evident from the analyses that issues related to health and illness were essential in both Norwegian and Russian settlements on Svalbard in the 1950s. Many of the same diseases and incidents, such as mining injuries, hypothermia and appendicitis, are prevalent in both novels. An interesting difference is that The Arctic Novel does not contain references to psychiatric diseases, even though they were presumably relevant for the inhabitants on Svalbard, irrespectively of their geographical provenance and social background.
One of the overarching themes that arises from these texts, is how the spatial setting directly affects health and illness. Living on Svalbard has clear effects for the health and well-being of the main characters in both novels. Another fundamental theme is how individuals fit into a larger context. These themes are important also today, when discussing for instance access to health care in remote areas (such as Svalbard), or when exploring the international presence on Svalbard from a geopolitical perspective.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:14:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f438891ce424953b9f4dd838549a148 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1500-7502 1890-9671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T14:14:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Septentrio Academic Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Poljarnyj Vestnik: Norwegian Journal of Slavic Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f438891ce424953b9f4dd838549a1482022-12-22T03:29:46ZengSeptentrio Academic PublishingPoljarnyj Vestnik: Norwegian Journal of Slavic Studies1500-75021890-96712022-06-0125110.7557/6.6572Health Through the Space LensTurid Austin Wæhler0UiT - The Arctic University of Norway The article discusses cultural perceptions and interpretations of health and illness in a Svalbard context through the analysis of the novels Longyearbyen (2020) by the Norwegian writer Heidi Sævareid and The Arctic Novel (1964) by the Soviet writer Vladlen Anchishkin. Both novels use Svalbard of the 1950s as a setting for portraying issues related to health and illness. It is evident from the analyses that issues related to health and illness were essential in both Norwegian and Russian settlements on Svalbard in the 1950s. Many of the same diseases and incidents, such as mining injuries, hypothermia and appendicitis, are prevalent in both novels. An interesting difference is that The Arctic Novel does not contain references to psychiatric diseases, even though they were presumably relevant for the inhabitants on Svalbard, irrespectively of their geographical provenance and social background. One of the overarching themes that arises from these texts, is how the spatial setting directly affects health and illness. Living on Svalbard has clear effects for the health and well-being of the main characters in both novels. Another fundamental theme is how individuals fit into a larger context. These themes are important also today, when discussing for instance access to health care in remote areas (such as Svalbard), or when exploring the international presence on Svalbard from a geopolitical perspective. https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/vestnik/article/view/6572Svalbardcoal mininghealth |
| spellingShingle | Turid Austin Wæhler Health Through the Space Lens Poljarnyj Vestnik: Norwegian Journal of Slavic Studies Svalbard coal mining health |
| title | Health Through the Space Lens |
| title_full | Health Through the Space Lens |
| title_fullStr | Health Through the Space Lens |
| title_full_unstemmed | Health Through the Space Lens |
| title_short | Health Through the Space Lens |
| title_sort | health through the space lens |
| topic | Svalbard coal mining health |
| url | https://septentrio.uit.no/index.php/vestnik/article/view/6572 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT turidaustinwæhler healththroughthespacelens |