Inspired by Iceland: Borealism and Geographical Imaginations of the North in Migrants’ Narratives

Abstract

In this article, we apply the concept of borealism as introduced by Kristinn Schram (2011) as well as anthropological literature on the role of images in producing different forms of mobilities (Salazar, 2011; 2013), in order to unravel the ways through which geographical imaginaries of Iceland and the North have been appropriated, utilised and reproduced by migrants. We discuss how the tourism upsurge and the ideas of exotic, pure and authentic North actuated migration to Iceland, and how it affected migrants’ narratives. Based on ethnographic research, we seek to understand how these different representations of Iceland impact the way migrants think about and embody the place where they live, and how they reflect the borealist discourse in their own narratives. We particularly focus on the exotic image of Iceland and understanding of authenticity expressed by migrants settling in the Icelandic countryside.