Monica Takvam

  • HOME

  • PROJECTS

    • THE WAY OF FLOWERS
    • FIELDWORK AND OTHER LANDSCAPE STORIES
    • SEE YOU SEE ME - PART 3
    • SEE YOU SEE ME
    • BEDS
    • JANTELOVEN
  • EDITORIAL & PORTRAITS

  • ABOUT

  • CONTACT

  • More

    Use tab to navigate through the menu items.
    I shall not believe that I am somebody
    I shall not believe that I am somebody
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg er noe
    I shall not believe that I am as worthy as them
    I shall not believe that I am as worthy as them
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg like så meget som dem
    I shall not believe that I am any wiser than them
    I shall not believe that I am any wiser than them
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg er klokere enn dem
    I shall not imagine that I am any better than them
    I shall not imagine that I am any better than them
    Jeg skal ikke innbille meg at jeg er bedre enn dem
    I shall not imagine that I know anything more than them
    I shall not imagine that I know anything more than them
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg vet mere enn dem
    I shall not believe that I am any more than them
    I shall not believe that I am any more than them
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg er mere enn dem
    I shall not believe that I am good at anything
    I shall not believe that I am good at anything
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg duger til noe
    I shall not laugh at them
    I shall not laugh at them
    Jeg skal ikke le av dem
    I shall not believe that anyone cares about me
    I shall not believe that anyone cares about me
    Jeg skal ikke tro at noen bryr seg om meg
    I shall not believe that I can teach them anything

Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg kan lære dere noe
    I shall not believe that I can teach them anything Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg kan lære dere noe
    Jeg skal ikke tro at jeg kan lære dere noe

    This project is an exploration of the various pressures associated with these laws, and how their negative repercussions can have mental and emotional impact when placed on individuals both in rural and in larger communities.

     

    "The concept behind the series of photographs is based on a well-known Scandinavian word often used to describe the negative side of small-town mentality and people's ability to suppress others. Janteloven, meaning the law of Jante, is a term that originates from a novel written in 1933 by Aksel Sandemose that exposes the destructive effects of growing up in small-town Denmark. The single word Janteloven has become a well-respected and famous term widely used in daily speech and it has even established value as a formal term in social psychology. Although set in Scandinavia in a specific small community, Monica Takvam explores how the suppression of individual encouragement is transferable to communities all over the world. The hostile and discouraging atmosphere is commonplace in environments where uniqueness is a sin, and standing out from the crowd in any way is a disgrace."

     

    Text as published in Portfolio Magazine, Issue 47 May 2008

    ​

    © 2005 - 2021 Monica Takvam
     

    • Twitter
    • Instagram