Among the more surprising social developments of the early
twenty-first century is the advance of Scandinavia, of all places, into the
vanguard of popular culture, at least in the industrialized world. Today Americans and Europeans play a
bird-themed game from Finland on their smartphones (and at one time bought most
of the phones from Finland as well), read Swedish detective novels about
tattooed hackers and world-weary policemen, and shake their backsides to the
musical stylings of Norwegian furries. Even Iceland is becoming a tourist destination for aging hipsters who
remember how much they once liked Bjork.
One Scandinavian people, however, has yet to step up and produce a distinctive popular cultural artifact: the Danes. Come on, Denmark! You were once a power to be reckoned with, and I’ll bet there is still much trashy greatness in you. At least give us a pop group akin to Smile DK, or an eccentric feel-good movie or two.
One Scandinavian people, however, has yet to step up and produce a distinctive popular cultural artifact: the Danes. Come on, Denmark! You were once a power to be reckoned with, and I’ll bet there is still much trashy greatness in you. At least give us a pop group akin to Smile DK, or an eccentric feel-good movie or two.
2 comments:
You appear to have missed the massive cultural phenomenon of quality Danish TV.
The Killin, The Bridge, Borgen, with more in the pipeline.
Europe, especially the UK can't get enough of it.
Thank you, sir! I stand corrected.
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