Depictions of Jews in Scandinavian Theatre and Literature
10.1515/9783110634822.Abstract
This article casts light on the image of “the Jew” in the performing arts and literature in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway as well as on the latest academic works dealing with the topic. All three countries have a long tradition of Jewish characters both in theatre and in literature which indeed differ from one another and also, at least partly, from tested European traditions. Dealing with the Northern part of Europe highlights once more that depictions of Jews in fictional works are not necessarily linked to their actual presence. With these perspectives this article focuses on the complex interactions between aesthetic, performative, and political dimensions of antisemitism in the performing arts and literature and discusses the (lack of) academic discourses to approach the topic.
