Body Symbolism in Old Norse Myth
Jan Koz谩k presents his postdoc project about bodily metaphors
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This听presentation will give an overview of the 2-year Marie Curie Fellowship postdoc project. The aim of the project is to investigate the integrative 听function of bodily metaphors in Old Norse myths and explore the ways how the听image of the body is used as a mapping tool that provides orientation听and imbues mythological motifs with multifaceted meanings, gives them听power and applicability (which is one of the constitutive features of听functioning myths).
The research is composed of four basic foci:
1) an听overview of the presence of body symbolism across the corpus of Old Norse myths听- a selective perspective that allows to bring forth inner parallels and听analogies in thought-patterns within the mythic material.
2) an in-depth听study of selected motifs: separated body parts as metaphors for power,听inspiration, wisdom etc.
3) the effect of the process of transition from听the pre-Christian to Christian symbolic system and the discontinuities听in the body image and body symbolism.
4) general question of the听production of meaning and orientation through the usage of metaphors,听especially body-metaphors, and the assessment of some of the听contemporary cognitive-linguistic, semiotic and anthropological听frameworks that theorize myth and metaphor.
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Jan Koz谩k is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Bergen since August 2018. He has previously worked as a听lecturer at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at the Charles University in Prague.听
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All interested parties are welcome!