ANDREAS HOPFGARTEN
A PLACE DOES NOT BECOME A PLACE UNTIL SOMEONE HAS BEEN THERE
Poorly painted paraphernalia
Work in progress
Borealism is a form of exoticism in which stereotypes are imposed on the northern regions and cultures of the world, especially the Nordic and Arctic regions. The term derives from the Latin word borealis (the north) and is an appropriation of the term Orientalism by Edward Said.
Iceland also repeatedly experiences forms of this exoticisation. Iceland's "alien" landscape in particular is increasingly used as a vehicle for romanticisation and is promoted as such by Iceland's own tourism industry. Especially among outdoor enthusiasts, Iceland's untouched, vast landscape enjoys great popularity.
Borealism, or to be more precise the term "borreal", has also increasingly appeared in politics since the 20th century. Representatives of extreme right-wing movements use it to euphemistically describe the superiority of a white Europe. These movements, in turn, go hand in hand with a romanticised view of Vikings, who are nowadays often misappropriated for a white superiority and a dearly missed form of masculinity.
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