Seals and Humans in Post-Industrial Seascape

Based on a literary analysis of Marit Eikemo’s reportage essay Alt søkk i havet (»Everything sinks into the Sea«), the article shows how Norwegian sources might be valuable for international research on urbanized seascapes. The article demonstrates how a blue humanities approach sheds new light on Eikemo’s acclaimed writings, focusing on her depictions of interactions between marine life, humans, and built environments at the first oil plant in the North Sea. It is claimed that Eikemo’s application of the seal-motif points both forward and backwards in time as it communicates on different ontological levels; the seals are real beings of the present, seemingly heralding an era to come, but also echoing old legends and tales.