Why are we drawn to stories that frighten us – or even linger on pain and cruelty? This talk situates violence in the medieval world as punishment and spectacle, as warfare and disorder, and as part of everyday norms and narratives. We consider who defined violence, how audiences encountered it, and how those choices shaped medieval life and memory – and how these legacies inform our responses in modern times.
In keeping with the season, the discussion also reflects on how historical memory colours what scares us today. Why do tales of the macabre endure? What happens when medieval scenes are retold on modern screens? And what responsibilities do historians carry when presenting disturbing material to a broad audience?
Speakers:
- Max Naderer – Postdoctoral Fellow in History who researches violence and conflict in the Nordic Middle Ages.
- Caitlin Ellis – Associate Professor of History who specialises in the early and central Middle Ages.
The event is organized by MA students in History as part of the course HIS4050 – Historieformidling. It’s free and open to everyone!
Scene HumSam is located on the ground floor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Library in Georg Sverdrups hus at Blindern.