Hype for the Future 83E: Is Iceland Immune to Heteronormativity?

Introduction

Though Iceland has traditionally focused on collective survival over private coupledom, the national identity had largely been gendered, as with the vast majority of national identities elsewhere. In the case of the island nation, however, many of the gender markers have largely been reference markers rather than role enforcers, as in the following demonstrations:

Icelandic Names

In Iceland, traditional family names are largely encouraged, and the national registry maintains a particular list of Icelandic names as to ensure the continued survival of the Old Norse variants of names relatively near their original forms without Danish, Norwegian, or other outside interference. Rather than allowing for family customs from elsewhere to be imported, the nation enforces Icelandic names and naming systems, with official prefixes as necessary:

• -son (masculine)
• -dóttir (feminine)
• -bun (neuter)

The eth (ð) and thorn (þ) sounds are represented using the respective characters as listed in parentheses, with the eth being voiced and the thorn voiceless. For example, the following may be translated:

• Þórsson (Thor’s son)
• Þórsdóttir (Thor’s daughter)
• Þórsbun (Thor’s child)

Even though traditional gender markers continue to appear in Icelandic names at large, the official policies throughout the island are generally amongst the most liberating for LGBTQIA+ communities and additional gender identities. While gender markers in contexts elsewhere determine behavioral and social expectations alike, the Icelandic gender roles are generally more attached to purely reference points and factual information.

Hype for the Future 74G: Imagining a Post-Gender Society

Overview

novaTopFlex continues to lead the movement in researching different countries and regions that may provide insights into life either beyond heteronormativity or entirely lacking the constraints created in modern society by heteronormative expectations. Such features of the movement may include, but are often not limited to, identifying countries and regions across the globe with the most progressive policies regarding gender, mitigating issues regarding misogyny and, in rare cases, misandry. The most significant of the nations to provide insights into a post-gender society are the independent nations of Denmark 🇩🇰, Norway 🇳🇴, Sweden 🇸🇪, and Iceland 🇮🇸, with select communities in Finland 🇫🇮 also possibly providing insights. Within the United States, the New England states often pose as the most inclusive, and within Canada, the Maritimes pose very similarly as well. Australia and New Zealand, however, are quite different circumstantially, with each individual region providing an independent perspective on modern society, with Western Australia less of a settlement of convicts and New Zealand more of a settlement derived from Australia.

Hype for the Future 51/284: The Pronoun Rules

Preamble

novaTopFlex, as an identity, has internalized the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Therefore, the goal of novaTopFlex is to avoid the use of pronouns as much as possible, though such avoidance may not always be feasible. As a compromise, however, novaTopFlex can—and shall—focus on minimizing pronoun use with the exception of the Daily Prompts on WordPress and occasionally to refer to royalty and nobility, especially prior to the year 1500.

Why the Divide?

novaTopFlex shall focus on restricting pronouns to an era when gender roles were more fixed and traditional. While such roles remained strictly enforced and intact in many societies long after the year 1500, historical records prior to 1500 have often had obvious gender markers, while later historical records may be more ambiguous. Pronouns may also be necessary in the daily prompts and associated questions, specifically, for the simple reason that the questions are directed to the writer in particular.

Hype for the Future 39/284: Cultural Changes Caused by Frank Lloyd Wright

Frank Lloyd Wright was a very significant architect, even changing the cultural identity of architectural design within the United States of America. While, unfortunately, many corporations are unethical and dishonest in the profit motive created by capitalism, Wright was among the most honest of architects in all of American history. Under Wright’s architectural styles, however, honesty was largely within the top priorities with each design. Later in his life, even the Usonian designs were honestly crafted for the appropriate dimensions, with one particular construction in Willoughby Hills notable for vertical dimensions influenced by the intent to serve a family with a 6’8” family member.

Apart from being a major architect throughout his lifetime, Wright was also influential in the creation of just a few fonts, including fonts of particular significance in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright himself. Architecturally, however, he was the person to dramatically change gender and other social roles through architectural design, most notably within the Kaufmann house at Fallingwater and the Frank Lloyd Wright personal estate at Taliesin (a Welsh name, by the way, because of Wrighr’s maternal family, the Lloyd Joneses).

Hype for the Future 8D: Madonna of the Trail Statues

Within the twelve (12) states containing the Madonna of the Trail statues, historical interest often occurs with the celebration of pioneer women across the region and beyond. Derived from the National Old Trails Road, the twelve Madonna of the Trail statues relate to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) to promote the celebration of the historically marginalized groups, not just women. The twelve states, from east to west, with the National Old Trails Road (and thus the Madonna of the Trail statues) are Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. More specifically, the statues are located in Bethesda, Maryland; Beallsville, Pennsylvania; Wheeling, West Virginia; Springfield, Ohio; Richmond, Indiana; Vandalia, Illinois; Lexington, Missouri; Council Grove, Kansas; Lamar, Colorado; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Springerville, Arizona; and Upland, California. While the twelve statues are designed identically, every individual statue provides a unique story that is best experienced when individuals and communities begin in Maryland and end in California.