News
Meet the Workshop Leader
10-08-2009
We asked Christoffer Næss, the Scandinavian Stories workshop leader, eight questions about cultural identity and digital storytelling.
Why did you move to New York?
I moved to New York because I wanted to spend a few years of my life in this micro cosmos. Another reason was that I felt it was a great advantage to get an education in a multicultural global city.
As someone who chose to leave Norway for the U.S., what do those countries mean
to you?
Although I still feel mostly Norwegian, I feel a close connection to both countries. Actually I feel more and more Norwegian, the more time I spend in the US and I define myself more as a Norwegian than I used to in Norway. Experiencing a multicultural city as New York has helped me to both see a universal culture, as well as appreciating sets of values that are typical for Norwegians, for example our love for hikes in the mountains, eating healthy food, and bicycling.
Do you identify as Norwegian/ Scandinavian/ex-pat/American/world citizen
/anything else?
I would identify myself as a world citizen with Scandinavian roots.
What does cultural identity mean to you?
Cultural identity for me is the sensation of belonging somewhere. I think it is a healthy thing for people to feel that they come from somewhere and that they can identify themselves with that culture’s history, people, its struggles but also its needs. I believe a person can have more than one cultural identity without that necessarily becoming a conflict - it is about extracting the best parts of each culture and apply them to one's own life. I think that cultural identity can be universal, based on peoples’ experience of living in different places around the world. A universal cultural identity is therefore a collection of characteristics from many different cultures instead of just one.
What languages do you speak and what do you think the connections are between language and cultural identity?
I speak and understand Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, and Portuguese. I believe languages are closely connected to cultural identity. I believe that language strengthens cultural identity and that one understands the depth of a culture by learning its language.
How did you come in contact with digital storytelling?
It started with a class I took at New School University called Global Youth Media, with a very captivating professor named Peter Lucas. The class totally flipped around what I thought I knew about photography, filmmaking, human rights, and storytelling. It allowed me to gain a more holistic understanding of the power behind self-represented media.
What’s the best experience you have had with digital storyteling?
I believe it was in Rio de Janeiro, working on a self-represented video letter in the oppressed community of the favela Complexo da Mare. After having had several workshops with the children - teaching them about basic presentation techniques, film and audio skills, the importance of having a critical eye, and a strong voice - we watched them walk around their community, presenting the video letter on their own with much confidence and pride. This moment taught me the strength and power of digital storytelling. I realized how much this really meant for these kids, their community, and the entire city of Rio de Janeiro.
Why did you want to get involved in Scandinavian Stories?
I believe it is important because it teaches kids about their roots, something they may have forgotten after living in New York for most of their lives. Furthermore, I think it is important to teach kids about critical awareness and to raise consciousness of film and photography on an aesthetic but also developmental level.
I wanted to become a part of Scandinavian stories because cultural identity is something I find especially interesting, and it is something I have had reason to reflect on a lot myself. I am excited and curious about the kids I will meet and their stories of how they experience their Scandinavian cultural identity in New York City.
Read more about Christoffer Næss: www.scandinavianstories.org/teachers.php
Why did you move to New York?
I moved to New York because I wanted to spend a few years of my life in this micro cosmos. Another reason was that I felt it was a great advantage to get an education in a multicultural global city.
As someone who chose to leave Norway for the U.S., what do those countries mean
to you?
Although I still feel mostly Norwegian, I feel a close connection to both countries. Actually I feel more and more Norwegian, the more time I spend in the US and I define myself more as a Norwegian than I used to in Norway. Experiencing a multicultural city as New York has helped me to both see a universal culture, as well as appreciating sets of values that are typical for Norwegians, for example our love for hikes in the mountains, eating healthy food, and bicycling.
Do you identify as Norwegian/ Scandinavian/ex-pat/American/world citizen
/anything else?
I would identify myself as a world citizen with Scandinavian roots.
What does cultural identity mean to you?
Cultural identity for me is the sensation of belonging somewhere. I think it is a healthy thing for people to feel that they come from somewhere and that they can identify themselves with that culture’s history, people, its struggles but also its needs. I believe a person can have more than one cultural identity without that necessarily becoming a conflict - it is about extracting the best parts of each culture and apply them to one's own life. I think that cultural identity can be universal, based on peoples’ experience of living in different places around the world. A universal cultural identity is therefore a collection of characteristics from many different cultures instead of just one.
What languages do you speak and what do you think the connections are between language and cultural identity?
I speak and understand Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, English, and Portuguese. I believe languages are closely connected to cultural identity. I believe that language strengthens cultural identity and that one understands the depth of a culture by learning its language.
How did you come in contact with digital storytelling?
It started with a class I took at New School University called Global Youth Media, with a very captivating professor named Peter Lucas. The class totally flipped around what I thought I knew about photography, filmmaking, human rights, and storytelling. It allowed me to gain a more holistic understanding of the power behind self-represented media.
What’s the best experience you have had with digital storyteling?
I believe it was in Rio de Janeiro, working on a self-represented video letter in the oppressed community of the favela Complexo da Mare. After having had several workshops with the children - teaching them about basic presentation techniques, film and audio skills, the importance of having a critical eye, and a strong voice - we watched them walk around their community, presenting the video letter on their own with much confidence and pride. This moment taught me the strength and power of digital storytelling. I realized how much this really meant for these kids, their community, and the entire city of Rio de Janeiro.
Why did you want to get involved in Scandinavian Stories?
I believe it is important because it teaches kids about their roots, something they may have forgotten after living in New York for most of their lives. Furthermore, I think it is important to teach kids about critical awareness and to raise consciousness of film and photography on an aesthetic but also developmental level.
I wanted to become a part of Scandinavian stories because cultural identity is something I find especially interesting, and it is something I have had reason to reflect on a lot myself. I am excited and curious about the kids I will meet and their stories of how they experience their Scandinavian cultural identity in New York City.
Read more about Christoffer Næss: www.scandinavianstories.org/teachers.php
