Literature: Nordic Noir

The genre Nordic Noir, a publishing phenomenon and the

source of many small-screen drama series, has been one of

the most dominant forms of popular literature in the past

decades, which shows no sign of abating. We will explore the

origins of the literary genre, arguing that it begins with Doctor

Glas by Hjalmar Soderberg, who creates a tale of obsessive

love and murder.

We will then progress to explore more recent examples of the

genre, crossing several Scandinavian nations, each with its

own particular landscape and cultural emphases. Seeking

common features within the genre, we will discuss the

psychology of murder, the audience’s desire for horror, the

genre’s relationship with more traditional crime fiction and

the conventional thriller.

We will also discuss issues relating to the perceived misogyny

of Nordic Noir, the nature of its graphic depictions of death,

and how these elements relate to questions of individual and

societal attitudes to gender, sexuality, ethnicity and class.

These are important questions and require thoughtful

discussion.

It is hoped that our discussions will allow an evaluation or

re-evaluation of the genre and the readership’s desire to be

entertained by terror, an argument that has been a live and

contentious one for centuries.