Ecology and livelihood on Cap Corse, Corsica
On Corsica’s northern tip, historically there have been divisions between inland-focussed pastoralists and sea-oriented fishermen. A study of whether, and then how, this division of labour manifests itself in local politics, ritual practices and other parts of the social and cultural structure would be very interesting.
The cultural remnants of a fading labour movement?
The cultural infrastructure of the labour movement, such as choirs, clubs, and ceremonies, lives on in Groruddalen. But the membership is aging, and with a significant demographic change over the past four decades there has been little new recruitment. How are the symbols of the traditional Norwegian labour movement maintained under changing social conditions.
Christian denominations and the social fabric in Norwegian towns
The current role of religion in Eastern Norwegian towns is understudied. Some of these towns, such as Fredrikstad, Halden, Larvik, Porsgrunn, and Skien, have had long-standing denominational divisions and a history of class divisions. Do these patterns coincide? Have they changed over the decades? Is there a greater sense of Christian unity now than before? These are only some of the questions that can be raised in projects that will include archive material and other historical sources to complement ethnographic fieldwork.
Language and ethnicity on the Frisian Islands
This chain of small islands on the North Sea coast of Germany and the Netherlands boasts a number of related languages. A study of identity and the communication of difference between the various places and towards tourists and other non-residents will be interesting.
Pulse towns
What is off-season life like in the many small Norwegian towns that experience a ten-fold increase in population during the tourist season? There is room for a number of such studies, either in a summer destination (for instance Stavern, Krager?, Lillesand, Tvedestrand) or a winter destination.
Religious practice and complexities of belonging in an Oslo mosque
In one of the most established mosques in central Oslo, there is an ongoing discussion over what shapes Norwegian forms of Islam shall take. How do the leadership, the clergy and the members approach these questions?
Rites of passage in contemporary Norway
What are they, and what shape do they take? Are there any that are open to all beyond those that are found in the school system (first days of school, graduation ceremonies, russetid) and universities (fadderuke, graduation ceremonies). How does the discourse change in tandem with increasing religious diversity in a post-secular age?
Women’s rituals and medical knowledge in northern Vanuatu
On the island of Mota, male ritual knowledge and practices have received much attention, while their female counterparts have not been studied to the same degree. A study of gendered knowledge in this matrilineal society will give a good angle for exploring the relation between knowledge and power.