Publisher Description

Julie Allen utilizes the lives and friendship of the Danish literary critic George Brandes (1842-1927) and the silent film star Asta Nielsen (1881-1972) to explore questions of culture and national identity in early twentieth-century Denmark. Danish culture and politics were influenced in this period by the country's deeply ambivalent relationship with Germany. Brandes and Nielsen, both of whom lived and worked in Germany for significant periods of time, were seen as dangerously cosmopolitan by the Danish public, even while they served as international cultural ambassadors for the very society that rejected them during their lifetimes. Allen argues that they were the prototypical representatives of a socially liberal and culturally modern "Danishness" (Danskhed) that Denmark itself only gradually (and later) grew into.

This lively study brings its central characters to life while offering an original, thought provoking analysis of the origins and permutations of Danish modernism and Danish national identity--issues that continue to be significant in today's multi-ethnic Denmark. Icons of Danish Modernity is a book about the uneasy waves that arise when celebrities take on national symbolism, and the beginnings of this formula in the early twentieth century.

Notes

Offers an original, thought provoking analysis of the origins and permutations of Danish modernism and Danish national identity

Author Biography

Julie K. Allen is associate professor of Scandinavian studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Section One | Introduction

1. The Critic and the Actress: Crafting Art and National Identity

Section Two | George Brandes

2. The Literary Revolutionary: Marketing Danish Modernity in Imperial Germany

3. The Outspoken Radical: Political Journalism and Provocative Pacifism

Section Three | Asta Nielsen

4. The Danish Diva: Identity Games in Prewar Silent Cinema

5. The New Woman: Enacting Scandinavian Modernity on Screen

Conclusion

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Review

"Allen weaves a compelling cultural analysis about national identity and its mores. The juxtaposition of the works of Georg Brandes and Asta Nielsen is highly original and Allen's contribution offers a much-needed introduction to an English reading audience of these important cultural figures." Karin Sanders, University of California, Berkeley

Promotional

Offers an original, thought provoking analysis of the origins and permutations of Danish modernism and Danish national identity

Long Description

Julie Allen utilizes the lives and friendship of the Danish literarycritic George Brandes (1842-1927) and the silent film star Asta Nielsen(1881-1972) to explore questions of culture and national identity inearly twentieth-century Denmark. Danish culture and politics wereinfluenced in this period by the country's deeply ambivalentrelationship with Germany. Brandes and Nielsen, both of whom lived andworked in Germany for significant periods of time, were seen asdangerously cosmopolitan by the Danish public, even while they servedas international cultural ambassadors for the very society thatrejected them during their lifetimes. Allen argues that they were theprototypical representatives of a socially liberal and culturallymodern "Danishness" (Danskhed) that Denmark itself onlygradually (and later) grew into. This lively study brings its central characters to life whileoffering an original, thought provoking analysis of the origins andpermutations of Danish modernism and Danish national identity -issues that continue to be significant in today's multi-ethnicDenmark. Icons of Danish Modernity is a book about the uneasywaves that arise when celebrities take on national symbolism, and thebeginnings of this formula in the early twentieth century.

Review Quote

"Allen weaves a compelling cultural analysis about national identity and its mores. The juxtaposition of the works of Georg Brandes and Asta Nielsen is highly original and Allen's contribution offers a much-needed introduction to an English reading audience of these important cultural figures." Karin Sanders, University of California, Berkeley

Description for Reader

Julie Allen utilizes the lives and friendship of the Danish literarycritic George Brandes (1842-1927) and the silent film star Asta Nielsen(1881-1972) to explore questions of culture and national identity inearly twentieth-century Denmark. Danish culture and politics wereinfluenced in this period by the country's deeply ambivalentrelationship with Germany. Brandes and Nielsen, both of whom lived andworked in Germany for significant periods of time, were seen asdangerously cosmopolitan by the Danish public, even while they servedas international cultural ambassadors for the very society thatrejected them during their lifetimes. Allen argues that they were theprototypical representatives of a socially liberal and culturallymodern "Danishness" (Danskhed) that Denmark itself onlygradually (and later) grew into. This lively study brings its central characters to life whileoffering an original, thought provoking analysis of the origins andpermutations of Danish modernism and Danish national identity -issues that continue to be significant in today's multi-ethnicDenmark. Icons of Danish Modernity is a book about the uneasywaves that arise when celebrities take on national symbolism, and thebeginnings of this formula in the early twentieth century.

Details