The Law of Jante ( Danish : janteloven [ˈjæntəˌlɔwˀən, -lɒwˀ-] ) is a code of conduct originating in fiction and now used colloquially to denote a social attitude of disapproval towards expressions of individuality and personal success. Coined by the Danish - Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose , it has also come to represent the egalitarian nature of Scandinavian countries.
19-459: The "Law" was first formulated as ten rules in Sandemose's satirical novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks ( En flyktning krysser sitt spor , 1933), but the attitudes themselves are older. Sandemose portrays the fictional small Danish town of Jante, modelled upon his native town Nykøbing Mors in the 1930s where nobody was anonymous, a feature of life typical of small towns. There are ten rules in
38-483: A way of behaving in order to fit in and results in dressing similarly and the types of cars that people buy and buying similar products for their homes. It is commonly stated that Jante Law is for people in the provinces, but commentators have suggested that metropolitan areas are also affected. While the original intention was as satire, Kim Orlin Kantardjiev, a Norwegian politician and educational advisor, claims that
57-426: A way of behaving in order to fit in and results in dressing similarly and the types of cars that people buy and buying similar products for their homes. It is commonly stated that Jante Law is for people in the provinces, but commentators have suggested that metropolitan areas are also affected. While the original intention was as satire, Kim Orlin Kantardjiev, a Norwegian politician and educational advisor, claims that
76-527: Is a code of conduct originating in fiction and now used colloquially to denote a social attitude of disapproval towards expressions of individuality and personal success. Coined by the Danish - Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose , it has also come to represent the egalitarian nature of Scandinavian countries. The "Law" was first formulated as ten rules in Sandemose's satirical novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks ( En flyktning krysser sitt spor , 1933), but
95-661: Is located on the east coast of the island of Mors by the Sallingsund , a sound that separates Mors from the Salling peninsula on the mainland Jutland peninsula in Denmark. It is the largest town on Mors and the island's cultural center. Approximately half of the island's residents live in the area around Nykøbing. The town is located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) north of the Sallingsund Bridge , which connects Mors with Salling across
114-627: Is the largest town on the island of Mors in the Limfjord in Denmark . The town received its charter in 1299 and has a population of 8,941, as of 1 January 2024. It is located in Morsø Municipality and belongs to Region Nordjylland . The town received its charter in 1299. Nykøbing was the seat of the former Dueholm monastery , now part of the Morsland Historical Museum. Nykøbing
133-611: The Law of Jante is taught in schools as more of a social code to encourage group behavior , and attempts to credit it with fueling Nordic countries' high happiness scores . It has also been suggested that contentedness with a humdrum lifestyle is a part of happiness in the Scandinavian countries. However, in Scandinavia, there have also been journalistic articles which link the Law of Jante to high suicide rates . Backlash has occurred against
152-453: The Law of Jante is taught in schools as more of a social code to encourage group behavior , and attempts to credit it with fueling Nordic countries' high happiness scores . It has also been suggested that contentedness with a humdrum lifestyle is a part of happiness in the Scandinavian countries. However, in Scandinavia, there have also been journalistic articles which link the Law of Jante to high suicide rates . Backlash has occurred against
171-637: The Sallingsund. Nykøbing Mors is located 31 kilometres (19 mi) north of the town Skive in Salling and 30 kilometres (19 mi) southeast of the town Thisted in Thy . Located just outside the town on a spit is Nykøbing Mors Cricket Club Ground . The ground has in the past held Women's One Day International matches, including matches for the home national team . Jante Law The Law of Jante ( Danish : janteloven [ˈjæntəˌlɔwˀən, -lɒwˀ-] )
190-598: The attitudes themselves are older. Sandemose portrays the fictional small Danish town of Jante, modelled upon his native town Nykøbing Mors in the 1930s where nobody was anonymous, a feature of life typical of small towns. There are ten rules in the law as defined by Sandemose, all expressive of variations on a single theme and usually referred to as a homogeneous unit: You are not to think you're anyone special, or that you're better than us. The ten rules state: The Janters who transgress this unwritten "law" are regarded with suspicion and some hostility, as it goes against
209-458: The law as defined by Sandemose, all expressive of variations on a single theme and usually referred to as a homogeneous unit: You are not to think you're anyone special, or that you're better than us. The ten rules state: The Janters who transgress this unwritten "law" are regarded with suspicion and some hostility, as it goes against the town's communal desire to preserve harmony, social stability and uniformity. An eleventh rule recognized in
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#1733086129861228-449: The novel as "the penal code of Jante" is: From the chapter "Maybe you don't think I know something about you": That one sentence (the eleventh rule), which acts as the penal code of Jante, as such was rich in content. It was an accusation of absolutely anything, and that it also had to be, because absolutely nothing was allowed. It was also an elaborate indictment, with all kinds of unspecified penalties given to be expected. Furthermore it
247-467: The rules, and in Norway someone even placed a grave for Jante Laws, declaring them dead in 2005. However, others have questioned whether they will ever go away, as they may be firmly entrenched in society. Andersen, Steen: Nye forbindelser. Pejlinger i Aksel Sandemoses forfatterskab. Vordingborg: Attika, 2015. ISBN 978-87-7528-8700 . In Danish Language. Nyk%C3%B8bing Mors Nykøbing Mors
266-548: The rules; he simply sought to formulate social norms that had stamped the Danish and Norwegian psyches for centuries. Although intended as criticism of society in general, some critics in the 1990s argued that the Law of Jante had shifted to refer to personal criticism of people who want to break out of their social groups and reach a higher position. It is common in Scandinavia to claim the Law of Jante as something quintessentially Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. The rules are treated as
285-497: The rules; he simply sought to formulate social norms that had stamped the Danish and Norwegian psyches for centuries. Although intended as criticism of society in general, some critics in the 1990s argued that the Law of Jante had shifted to refer to personal criticism of people who want to break out of their social groups and reach a higher position. It is common in Scandinavia to claim the Law of Jante as something quintessentially Danish, Norwegian or Swedish. The rules are treated as
304-436: The town's communal desire to preserve harmony, social stability and uniformity. An eleventh rule recognized in the novel as "the penal code of Jante" is: From the chapter "Maybe you don't think I know something about you": That one sentence (the eleventh rule), which acts as the penal code of Jante, as such was rich in content. It was an accusation of absolutely anything, and that it also had to be, because absolutely nothing
323-661: Was allowed. It was also an elaborate indictment, with all kinds of unspecified penalties given to be expected. Furthermore it was useful, depending fully on tone of voice, in financial extortion and enticement into criminal acts, and it could also be the best means of defense. Sandemose's novel described working-class life in the fictional town of Jante. He wrote in 1955, a bit mischievously, that "Many people have recognized [in Jante] their own hometown – this has happened regularly to people from Arendal [Norway], Tromsø [Norway] and Viborg [Denmark]". Sandemose made no claim to having invented
342-562: Was the place of birth of Danish - Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose and the reputed inspiration for the fictional town of Jante , associated with the Jante Law , in Sandemose's novel A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks . Søren Larsen and Sons owned a shipyard in Nykøbing Mors. There, the tall ship Søren Larsen was built in 1949. It is a brigantine . She is docked in Sydney, Australia. Nykøbing
361-485: Was useful, depending fully on tone of voice, in financial extortion and enticement into criminal acts, and it could also be the best means of defense. Sandemose's novel described working-class life in the fictional town of Jante. He wrote in 1955, a bit mischievously, that "Many people have recognized [in Jante] their own hometown – this has happened regularly to people from Arendal [Norway], Tromsø [Norway] and Viborg [Denmark]". Sandemose made no claim to having invented
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