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I started the week deciding to put some finishing touches to my #RTMA2019 paper. I'm now at a point where I can see all my previous work forming into a bigger picture and this paper is probably getting too big now.
My paper on Saturday looks at a post-rock band called Nordic Giants and analyses their use of Viking imagery in an explicitly left-wing manner, as a point of comparison to Viking metal.
Surprise surprise, masculinity plays a huge role in this for me, and I've ended up looking into National Socialist Black Metal and, further, the links to modern White Supremacist terrorist attacks.
In turn, I've reflected on how much airtime we've given to debates about women warriors, and my mixed feelings about it. My feelings now? It is dangerous for us to focus so much on this.
Vikings are being held up as Aryan heroes and the Ultimate in masculinity. By focusing so much on whether women could perform this socially masculine role, we empower the idea that masculinity was the ultimate Viking value above all other discussions.
Viking society was inherently patriarchal, but that is no different to other societies, historic or present. We need to focus on different discussions. The trade routes, the connections with people throughout the world, the friendships they inevitably formed.
We have to much work to do with improving the popular image of Vikings, but here's my closing Hot Take: by giving so much popular attention to Viking masculinity, we are empowering White Supremacists.
& since people are so bothered by the typo, that was meant to say ‘so much work to do’ 
