Þingvellir: Commodifying the “Heart” of Iceland

Þingvellir National Park, a symbol of Icelandic nationalism and national identity, faces a shift in its cultural significance due to commercialization within neoliberal economies. This study critically examines the transformation of Þingvellir from a site of historical importance and recreation into a global tourist destination. It explores how this commodification affects its symbolic potency as a gateway between continents and its role within universalized notions of humanity. The research adopts a postcolonial perspective to analyze these changes, highlighting the tension between heritage preservation and economic exploitation.

Loftsdóttir, K., & Lund, K. A. (2016). Þingvellir: Commodifying the “Heart” of Iceland. Postcolonial Perspectives on the European High North, 117–141. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-58817-3_5