samtímatextum

Samtímatextum is a term used in Icelandic literary and linguistic studies to refer to texts produced in the contemporary period, roughly from the late 20th century to the present. In scholarly usage, it functions as a broad category that encompasses literature, journalism, essays, and other written material created within recent decades.

Origin and etymology: The term combines samtími, meaning contemporary, and textur, meaning texts. In Icelandic scholarship, samtímatextum is used as a label rather than a fixed set, reflecting its evolving boundaries as new genres emerge.

Scope and features: Works classified as samtímatextum often reflect digital mediation, globalization, urban life, and social negotiation. Analyses focus on style, themes, intertextuality, and media constellations, including multimodal and online formats. The category is particularly associated with texts that challenge traditional print forms and conventional genre boundaries.

Usage and critique: The term is used to compare texts within the contemporary moment and to trace shifts in language, identity, and cultural production. Critics caution that the category is fluid and context-dependent, varying by country, language, and scholarly aims.

See also: Contemporary literature, Digital humanities, Modernism and postmodernism, Multimodal text analysis.