This past May, 9th-11th, our department hosted colleagues from around the globe at the annual meeting for the Society for the Advancement of Scandinavian Studies (SASS). It’s always an energizing and enlightening conference when you get to share ideas with the best and brightest in the field! One of the highlights was the opening keynote address by Professor Ethelene Whitmire from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who shared stories from her latest book, /Searching for Utopia: African Americans in 20th Century Denmark/. If you missed her keynote address, don’t fret! Dr. Whitmire collaborated with the National Nordic Museum on a special exhibit, “Nordic Utopia?” which is open until July 21.
https://nordicmuseum.org/exhibitions/nordic-utopia
Or you could listen to our interview with Dr. Whitmire on episode 12 of Crossing North, all about Dr. Whitmire’s current book project. Crossing North is available wherever podcasts are, or on our website:
https://scandinavian.washington.edu/crossing-north-12-searching-utopia
It was a great conference, full of interesting work, a special music stream packed with talented musicians and vocalists, some exciting optional tours before the keynote and opening reception (a talk and luncheon at the Swedish Club by Dr. Jennifer Attebery, professor emerita of English at Idaho State University; a coach trip to see the Dambo troll installation in West Seattle's Lincoln Park, with information and guidance provided by Line Liblik Larsen of the ScanDesign Foundation; and a personally guided Indigenous Walking Tour of the UW campus, given by UW alum Owen L. Oliver). Not to mention the closing banquet, with after-dinner music provided by Seattle DJ Lace Cadence.
It was fabulous to see it all come together, and our department is so proud of being able to host such an interesting event for everyone in the field.