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Essays


Covert Bullying and Silencing in the Arts
Today, November 8th, is the International Day Against Bullying. Bullying is not always visible or organized. It exists among adults just as much as among teenagers or children. Covert bullying, also called indirect or psychological bullying, can be so hidden that victims struggle to recognize or describe their experiences. People who speak up about violence, injustice, or corruption often face social exclusion, silencing, and reduced career opportunities after sharing their e

Dóra Jó
4 hours ago2 min read


After the Icelandic Television Awards
The TV series Húsó won for Best Screenplay and Best Scripted TV Series of 2024. “…but maybe the strangest thing about these television awards is that, what… they’re not shown on television?” – Símon Birgisson ( Menningarvaktin (The chandelier in the photo looks like a Disney princess crown!) I am deeply grateful for the recognition. I have never felt such a deep and personal connection to any project I´v

Dóra Jó
2 days ago1 min read


A Graduate of The School of Housewives Writes on Iceland´s Day of Women´s Strike
It’s a day of mixed emotions. My graduation from the Master’s program in Creative Writing at the University of Iceland happens to fall on Iceland’s Women’s Strike. The first Women’s Strike was held in 1975, when 90% of Icelandic women stopped working, both paid and unpaid jobs, to demonstrate the importance of women’s labor. The event had a profound impact on Icelandic society and helped pave the way for the world’s first democratically elected female president, Vigdís Finnbo

Dóra Jó
2 days ago6 min read


We All Need Role Models – They Show Us What is Possible
In 1986, I was six years old when I saw the film Stella í orlofi (titled in english: Stella on Holiday) in the cinema. A critic for the newspaper Vísir gave the film two and a half stars and described the movie as characterized by “female chauvinism.” He praised the male lead actor but found other aspects of the film “less successful and flat” (FRI). The Icelandic public, however, was much more positive and the film became one of the most beloved Icelandic movies of all tim

Dóra Jó
2 days ago5 min read


Addiction Doesn’t Appear Out of Nowhere
In light of the Icelandic Television Awards, I want to share an excerpt from my autoethnographic essays in creative writing, where I reflected, among other things, on Húsó (The School of Housewives) , a project based on my own experience as a student at the school after completing rehab. Screenshot from an Instagram story I posted while a student at the school (@dorajohanns – highlights: Húsó)

Dóra Jó
2 days ago4 min read


On Pseudonyms, Copyright, and Accountability in Publicly Funded Film Projects in Iceland
Although I am deeply grateful for the recognition that came with Húsó receiving awards for Best Script and Best Scripted Show at the Icelandic Television Awards last week, and proud of my work, what matters most to me is shedding light on the systemic issues underlying Húsó, both before and after production. In an era of artificial intelligence and growing information chaos, when freedom of expression can no longer be taken for granted, the protection of authors’ rights is

Dóra Jó
6 days ago6 min read
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