Annika Christensen

Profile

I am currently undertaking a PhD at the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies (FAHACS), University of Leeds. The research centers on the exploration of ballads in contemporary Faroese culture, primarily through popular music (esp. heavy metal) and cultural policies. I am interested in an ethnographic approach that utilises conversations with people from the Faroe Islands that actively engage with the ballads.

Other areas of interest include the socio-political landscape of European minorities, the study of language and culture in small communities and the role of heritage in contemporary formations of national identities. During my PhD I have taught undergraduate modules in Cultural and Media Studies and Medieval Studies.

Publications       

‘Performing (Hi)Stories: Narrative Elements in Faroese Balladry and Ring Dance’ – Book chapter, Events and Narratives in Language, ed. By Janusz Badio, Lodz Studies in Language, (Peter Lang, 2016) ·    

‘Metamorphosis, Beauty and the Monstrous: The Female Body in Faroese Folklore’, Désir, érotisme et cultures corporelles en Europe du Nord, Deshima, revue d’histoire globale des pays du nord, no. 11 (Presses Universitaires de Strasbourg, 2017)

Conference Presentations ·   

‘Metamorphosis, Beauty and the Monstrous: The Female Body in Faroese Folklore’, Conference pare, Désir, érotisme et cultures corporelles en Europe du Nord, March 2017, University of Strasbourg, FR ·  

 ‘Exploring Faroese and Icelandic Relationship to the Sea in Selkie Lore: Kópakonan (1891) and Selshamurinn (1852)’ – Conference paper, Frændafundur 9, August 2016, University of Iceland, ÍS ·  

 ‘Balladry in Contemporary Faroese Culture: The Faroese ballad Ormurin Langi Reinterpreted’ – Conference paper, 51st International Congress on Medieval Studies, May 2016, Western Michigan University, MI US ·   

‘Seyðabrævið: Old Norse and the language of the Faroe Islands’ – Conference paper, Norse in the North: Translation and Transmission, June 2016, University of York, UK ·

 ‘Balladry in Contemporary Faroese Culture: How do ballad singing and dance inform national identity and heritage in the Faroe Islands’ – Conference paper, Making an Impact: Postgraduate Research Conference,  June 2016, University Of Leeds, UK ·  

 ‘Performing Stories: Narrative Elements in Faroese Balladry and Ring Dance’ – Conference paper, Theoretical and Empirical Perspectives on Events and Narrative in Language Conference, December 2015, University of Lódz, PL

Qualifications

• MA Cultural Studies
• BA Cultural Studies