1. Museums in Nordland

Liam Mooney

             All of the museums we visited provided us with remarkable stories of the past concerning those who walked this land long before us. I think that these recounted stories in history contribute to society today by maintaining the link among modern day citizens and their distant ancestors. If the artifacts and contents of museums weren’t preserved and displayed, it’s likely that the culture of past times may be forgotten which ultimately weakens the present culture of a given society.

            While the old rusted machines of Herøy museum may not be of much use today, they remind us of the innovative minds that created these tools to make life easier for farmers and inhabitants of the time. Even though the Viking age is long gone, the mini replica of the Viking house in Nordlandmuseet provides us with a visual representation of the past that has given rise to the present. By studying the past, we’re able to learn more about our modern day lives. Museums are able to shift our perspective in a number of ways. For instance, in Petter Dass museum, a panel reads how “Nowadays we think of literature mostly as entertainment and pastime. In Petter Dass’ world, the prevailing attitude was quite another. The poet was a teacher who was there to convey a message.” Students who study literature here in 2016 may benefit from these exhibits as their viewpoint of prose are shifted in ways that modern society may neglect.

            It’s now easier than ever to get caught up in the technological allure of smartphones and such. I could google and research the majority of sites we visited throughout our Adventure Knowledge course this semester. However, the role of technology is capable of killing the human urge to go out and experience something first-hand. Imagine viewing a video of our climbing trip up Svartisen Glacier through a big TV while sitting on your couch. You’re unable to feel the senses and emotion involved with an adventure like such which completely deprives you of the essence of the actual experience. The same goes for museums. The influx of information and pictures online can give you a mere idea of an artifact or an exhibit, but you’ll never be fully invested in the cultural moment being displayed until you go and visit for yourself. All of the museums we visited allowed me to feel personally immersed and connected to the subject, causing me to leave with a real and memorable bundle of knowledge.