107: Árni Svanur Daníelsson

Nostalgia Interviews with Chris Deacy

My guest this week is Árni Svanur Daníelsson who is the Head of Communication for the Lutheran World Federation. We learn that Árni used to work in a video rental shop and became acquainted with film history. He went on to study theology at university and was involved in a theology and film group Deus ex Cinema.

We talk about the theology and film field and the possibilities that online communication have brought about, including podcasts which are allowing people to be creative.

Árni was born in Iceland in 1973, he grew up in a small family and he remembers growing up around a big forest. He talks about why The Empire Strikes Back, which he saw at the cinema three times, is such a key memory for him. We also learn about Árni’s musical influences and how music has been a way for him to connect with his children.

Árni talks about doing his degree in Iceland and his research on the way pastors are represented in film, and he discusses how film is a good way of understanding and of critique. We discover that in 2008 he was ordained as the first online pastor of the Church of Iceland, and we move on to talk about the impact of lockdown on ministry and we discover what his biggest hopes are once lockdown ends.

At the end of the interview, we learn that Árni’s memories are mainly positive and we talk about the role of grief and how our perceptions of grief may be reframed later in life. We discover that his younger self wouldn’t have been able to imagine what he is doing now and Árni reveals why he reflects with gratitude on his past.

Please note: Opinions expressed are solely those of Chris Deacy and Árni Svanur Daníelsson and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the University of Kent.