Публикации автора

The article deals with K. Hamsun’s novel Victoria (1898). The author offers an overview of various researchers’ approaches to the work and points out that most literary scholars analyzed this story from the point of view of social roles and psychology of the characters. It is further argued that a productive method of research can be to analyze the genre similarities of the novel with medieval Scandinavian ballads, with the author relying on Hamsun’s own assertion that Victoria is nothing but a lyric. The article point at the features of the composition and plot of the story, which are also characteristic of the ballad genre, in particular, its episodic structure and hyperbolized dramatic quality of the plot. Special attention is paid to the analysis of the prose poem Labyrinths of Love, according to the plot written by the protagonist Johannes. The author of the article points out the intertextual connections in the poem with the Bible and medieval ballads, emphasizing that these connections have the character of dialogue. It is further argued that Labyrinths of Love plays an important role in the development of the plot, providing a smooth transition between the episodes of the story and affirming the main idea of the work about love as a powerful force that plays with people’s lives. The tragedy of the protagonists is not a consequence of their social inequality or inner discord, but is predetermined by fate. Due to the dialog with biblical texts and medieval ballads, the seemingly “banal” story of Johannes and Victoria acquires a timeless, universal character, and they become one of the long row of “eternal lovers” such as Hagbard and Signe, Tristan and Isolde, Romeo and Juliet

This article explores the representation of mental disorders in Norwegian podcasts. The study aims to analyze the linguistic strategies used by podcast participants — including hosts, experts, and people with lived experience — to construct the image of illness and to identify approaches to destigmatizing mental disorders within these podcasts. The research is based on the analysis of spoken texts from projects such as Hverdagspsyken (‘Psychology of Everyday Life’) and Noia (‘Noia’). The findings reveal that mental health podcasts contribute to shaping a constructive image of illness, presenting it as a complex yet manageable condition that can be treated and reevaluated in a positive light. This approach seeks to reduce stigma and integrate mental health into everyday discourse, fostering a more inclusive society where individuals feel valued and accepted. Persons with lived experience, alongside other podcast participants, actively challenge entrenched stereotypes. By sharing their personal experiences, they often use artistic devices to create a more tangible and relatable depiction of disorder for an empathetic audience. Moreover, they present the disorder not only as a source of suffering but also as a catalyst for personal growth, which helps diminish feelings of hopelessness and cultivates a more optimistic view of mental health conditions. The podcast format lends itself to informal, conversational discussions of mental health issues, which, despite remaining partially taboo in society, are addressed with openness and authenticity. This creates an immersive listening experience for the listeners. Even in the absence of editorial censorship, hosts and experts consistently use politically correct language, reflecting the distinctive features of Norwegian public discourse.