Cross Section

A Day in Jokkmokk

October 12, 2014
Cross Section
Essay
No Comments

By Benjamin Pflughoeft University of Wisconsin–Madison A handful of miles north of the Arctic Circle, nestled in the heart of Sweden’s northernmost province of Lappland, lies the small village of Jokkmokk. Normally a quiet and isolated community, every first weekend of February the population explodes as thousands descend upon the village for the annual Jokkmokk Market —a tradition dating back more than 400 years. The Jokkmokk Market is a beacon of traditional Sami culture, filled with music, trade, and various…

Read More

How Finns Swear and What This Tells Us About Their Culture

October 12, 2014
Cross Section
Essay, Non-Fiction
No Comments

By Emily Malone University of Wisconsin–Madison The first thing many people studying a foreign language for the first time want to learn is how to swear. To them, learning how to say “fuck you, asshole!” is much more important than being able to introduce themselves or have a basic conver­sation. The good thing for people that love to swear and curse is that these phe­nomena are universal. All cultures and languages have plentiful means for people to spew obscenities. Where…

Read More

In the Case of David v. David

October 12, 2014
Cross Section
Essay
No Comments

By Kerry Jarvi University of Nebraska “So, where are you from?” is the polite way of asking “Who are you?” to strangers. Either way I remain conflicted answering the question. The honest, full answer of this question is much too complicated to give most people who ask. My answers all have varying levels of detail, and I’ve learned from experience to give the one that will require the least explanation. If the person is actually interested in getting to know…

Read More

An Analysis of Beauty, Truth, and Goodness

October 12, 2014
Cross Section
Essay, Non-Fiction
No Comments

By Mattias Schmidt University of Wisconsin–Madison What is Romanticism? This is a question that many people believe they are more than capable of answering. In truth, though, Romanticism is not an easily defined literary movement. It comprises layers upon layers of concepts and ideas, and some are even so complex that the human mind has difficulty encompassing them within an easily explicable framework. In Hans Christian Andersen’s tale “The Philoso­pher’s Stone,” the protagonist’s goal is to locate and unify the…

Read More

Lapp

October 8, 2014
Cross Section
Poetry
No Comments

By Ellen Ahlness Minnesota State University, Mankato From the Author: During my first few years delving into Norwegian culture, I was always interested in the culture and struggles of the Sami people. Lapp illustrates the difficulties of being Sami, especially in the 1960s through the 1990s, through the eyes of an unnamed boy. The very title “lapp,” taken from the Northern Sami term láhppon olmmoš (one who is lost), is a slur towards the nomadic nature of the traditional Sami…

Read More

Volsungs Drawing

October 8, 2014
Cross Section
Art Feature
No Comments

By Steve Horn University of Wisconsin–Madison From the Author: This drawing was inspired by the epic poem “The Saga of the Volsungs.” The im­age depicts Sigurd the Dragon Slayer defeating Fafnir. This is a key moment in the poem, solidifying Sigurd’s place in history as a great warrior. The drawing reflects a common style in Norse and Icelandic art: the knot. The knot is used to show the interconnectedness and familial ties in much of this ancient literature. As someone…

Read More
Login Request Help Help Docs