I can make some calls. There is a guy. Dagfinn Heyerdahl. He used to be with Norse Heritage Foundation. The Norse Heritage Foundation wasn't so much about heritage as it was about vikings, in the most cliché sense of the world. They drank enormous amounts of beer, fought, and wore horned helmets despite all historical evidence to the contrary. Used to be? Curran asked. They kicked him out for being drunk and violent. Curran blinked. The Norse Heritage? Mhm. Don't you have to be drunk and violent just to get in? he asked. Just how disorderly did he get?
This quote humorously critiques the stereotypical image of Vikings and how modern groups sometimes perpetuate exaggerated or inaccurate representations of historical cultures. The conversation reveals the disconnect between historical fact and popular myth—most notably the idea of horned helmets, which is largely a myth rather than a historical reality. The anecdote about the Norse Heritage Foundation emphasizes how sometimes organizations or communities construct identities around these exaggerated images, even if they are based on misconceptions. The dialogue also subtly explores the idea of reputation and acceptance, suggesting that in such groups, drunkenness and rowdiness might be prerequisites for entry, highlighting a performative or identity-defining aspect of subcultural groups. It triggers reflection on how stereotypes shape our perceptions of history and culture—often uncritically—and the way communities are built around—and sometimes distorted by—these images. This humorous exchange invites us to consider not only how history is mythologized but also how modern social groups may adopt these myths for identity or entertainment, sometimes at the expense of historical accuracy. The tone, playful yet pointed, underscores how human fascination with the romantic and fierce Viking image persists in popular culture, despite factual evidence to the contrary, revealing much about collective imagination and social identity constructions.