The Law of Jante (
Janteloven) was codified by the Danish-born novelist
Aksel Sandemose while he was living in Norway. The
Law comprises ten 'commandments', and describes an unspoken
code of conformity that Sandemose felt as a stifling inhibitive influence in the town where he grew up. Later commentators have used the term more generally to refer to the anti-individualist tendencies that have traditionally pervaded Scandinavian culture, and to denote 'the dark side of egalitarianism'. Of course, the Law needn't be
interpreted in such a negative light, and egalitarianism has its good side too, the difficult question being: do the benefits of equality make it worthwhile
suffering the strictures of
Janteloven?
posted by misteraitch
on Oct 27, 2004 -
31 comments
