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    The Norwegian country cabin and functionalism: a tale of two modernities


    Garvey, Pauline (2008) The Norwegian country cabin and functionalism: a tale of two modernities. Social Anthropology, 16. pp. 203-220. ISSN 0964-0282

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    Abstract

    The mountain or shore-side cabin (hytte) represents a common leisure form for a significant proportion of the Norwegian population. Its roots can be traced to the decline of farming society, growing urbanisation and an emphasis on the outdoor life as part of 20th-century state modernising projects. Throughout this modern history, and through periods of accelerated social change, the cabin has represented an ‘other’ form of domesticity. This paper makes the argument that far from representing an escape from post-industrial consumer society, the hytte prompts evaluation, comparison or negation of normative domesticity for its occupants. Many priorities such as getting back-to-nature and living the simple life are achieved best, paradoxically, through their material manifestation. Routine and rupture, and discourse surrounding farming culture artefacts are central in evoking contrast.

    Item Type: Article
    Keywords: Country cabins; Norway; modernity; routine; material culture;
    Academic Unit: Faculty of Social Sciences > Anthropology
    Item ID: 8370
    Depositing User: Dr Pauline Garvey
    Date Deposited: 27 Jun 2017 11:44
    Journal or Publication Title: Social Anthropology
    Publisher: Wiley
    Refereed: Yes
    URI:
    Use Licence: This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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