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Between coast and kitsch

General

Between coast and kitsch. Early medieval Frisia through the eyes of Vikings, the Oldfrisian and the contemporary researcher, that is the theme of the Pentecost Tuesday public lecture that Dr. Nelleke IJssennagger-van der Pluijm, managing director and historian at the Fryske Akademy, will hold on Tuesday evening, May 21, at Tresoar in Leeuwarden. The lecture is the final part of a symposium on the Frisian Middle Ages in Leeuwarden. The public lecture is accessible separately from the symposium.

In the early Middle Ages, our coastal region was known as Frisia. By sea, this Frisia was closely connected to the world of Vikings and other North Sea coast dwellers; the importance of the coast as a place to live was central. Despite regional differences, the connectedness of the coasts was so great that we can even speak of a North Sea world. At the same time, Frisia became part of the great continental Frankish empire, which was a counterpart of this North Sea world. What did this mean for the position of Frisia? How do we know that Frisia was strongly connected to other coasts, but also part of the continent? And what do Frisians, Vikings, Franks and others say about this? 

Perspectives
To properly understand Frisia in the period from the eighth to the eleventh century, we must juxtapose different perspectives. Not only the perspectives of Frisian coastal inhabitants, Frankish rulers and passing Vikings, for example, but also those of the contemporary researcher.

In this lecture, IJssennagger-van der Pluijm will take attendees through material culture, oral traditions, and the maritime landscape to this important and intriguing world of Frisia and to research conducted on it. What kitsch has to do with this? She will be happy to tell you in the lecture.


In brief:

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