Write about supernatural beings for the journal Arv!

Call for abstracts:
METAMORPHOSIS – STUDIES IN CHANGING RELATIONS BETWEEN PEOPLE AND SUPERNATURAL BEINGS

To a special issue of the journal Arv – Yearbook of Nordic Folklore, we invite articles that study changes in the interaction patterns between human beings and beings that are more than human.

Supernatural beings come in many sizes and shapes, from the largest dragon to the tiniest gnome. As variable are their attitudes, inclinations and habits, and their relations with the human world, ranging from indifferent, to beneficial, to deeply malevolent. What is more, this gamut of variability, including shapes, inclinations and human relations, is subject to historical changes.

While the concept of metamorphosis is applicable to many aspects of monster studies, for instance to how supernatural beings may have the power to alter their appearances, or to how their origin stories may contain mythical alterations, or to how they can disturb and change the fate of a person who happens to cross their path, the title for this publication marks the specific intention to orchestrate analytical close encounters with significant changes in the human/monster interaction patterns, when you for instance can see that people start describing supernatural beings in different genres, sorting them in different categories, experiencing different kinds of encounters with them, or placing their images in different locations and on different objects.

We want articles that use a range of research strategies for describing, exploring and interpreting these kinds of changes and leave you at liberty to apply the theoretical and methodical approaches that you prefer. This whish for methodical and analytical plurality is motivated by how the supernatural beings themselves are multi-faceted and moldable, and on the assumption that no single approach can hold them.

Abstract deadline: December 15th, 2025. Abstracts (250–500 words) should include: working title, description of source materials and main analytical objectives.

Send to: audun.kjus(at)norskfolkemuseum.no
Timeframe: Abstract deadline December 15th, 2025. Editorial replies by January 15th, 2026. Article deadline September 15th, 2026. Publication in 2027.

We look forward to reading your abstract!
Audun Kjus, Ida Tolgensbakk, Jakob Löfgren and John Moe
(guest editors)