From fantasy movies to novelizations, modern entertainment is riddled with direct and adapted references to Norse mythology. The incredible tales of men and women braving extreme weather conditions and slaying whimsical beasts live on in the present day in so much of the content that we consume. It’s fascinating to note, but why exactly is Norse mythology still so relevant and revered to this day? What secrets do these age-old stories hold that makes people keep coming back to them centuries after the existence of the civilization that told them? Let’s take a closer look at what makes Norse mythology so appealing and why we are still interested in it to this day.
The right themes
Norse mythology is flooded with themes we are all too familiar with and see daily on our screens. Tales of loss, grief, and quarrel are common in Norse mythology, a framework we have adapted and morphed to create engaging scenes in some of our favorite soaps. Norse mythology has the right mix of themes we are comfortable with and those we yearn to watch unfold in fresh and exciting ways. This familiarity and room for innovation draw us to any program or content depicting Norse mythology directly or eluding to it in some way.
Magical worlds
Using Harry Potter as a case study, the modern world’s fascination with magic is likely the reason we keep coming back to Norse mythology. The myths and fables of the Norsemen outline fantastical tales and magical events far removed from our own reality. The inclusion of curious beasts and mesmerizing spells make us, in the same way that the Harry Potter franchise did, feel lost in another world if even for just the length of a movie. The strange and unfamiliar settings, rich with characters and creatures we would never meet in the real world, provide a form of escapism that we so desperately crave during these tumultuous times. Norse mythology has the right ingredients to peak our attention, with a particular focus on the majesty of these worlds.
Nuanced villains
Another draw in for Norse mythology is the complexity and nuanced villains that riddle the pages of the old-world fables. We have gotten to a cinematic point where comic book movies and those drawing inspiration from graphic content portray the same kinds of villains for our heroes to face. We are facing cinema fatigue and there is a level of boredom that comes with a common villain. Looking back to the tales of Norse mythology, villains are complex and interesting, often reflecting some of our own desires though dark enough to push the boundaries and act on them. We are intrigued by villains like Loki as their motivations are recognizable and they are genuine in their pursuit of their schemes. We are no longer subject to the same formulaic villains but are able to witness Norse mythology through a marvelous lens of its fascinating villains.
Something greater than ourselves
At our core, we are all dreamers and we hope to achieve great things in our lives on this planet. Norse mythology is a reflection of these dreams, showcasing that there are things out there bigger than ourselves. Paging through Norse mythology is a way we remind ourselves that we are here to do wondrous things, a quality that we cannot find in the tragic history books of Rome. Norse mythology is the ideal showcase for the dreamers, something greater than ourselves we can source tremendous inspiration from.
