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.