Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2009, Page 61

Dreams of Cars on an Island
Youth, cars and cultural values in the Faroe Islands
Dreymar um bilar á oyggjum
Ungdómur, bilar og mentanarlig virði í Føroyum
Firouz Caini
Teacher College - Føroya Læraraskúli - University of the Faroe Islands Frælsið 20, FO-IOO Torshavn
Email: firouz@flsk.fo
Abstract
This article, based on a research project on youth and
car cultures in the Faroe Islands, describes and analyses
the meaning, value and symbol given to cars and
driving among young people today. The article focuses
on leisure, social interaction and cultural identity in
order to understand and defme the position and role
of the car among young people. The risk behaviour
and attitude of drivers is investigated with these
questions in mind: How do young people interpret
their own risk behaviour? How do young people com-
municate experiences and informadon concerning the
safety and danger of driving? The article aims to give a
fresh view on a field that has been characterized by
strong prejudiced societal condemnation of young
people's attitudes and behaviour.
Útrak
Hesin tekstur, ið hevur støði í granskingarverkætlan um
ungdóm og bilmentan í Føroyum, lýsir og greinir mein-
ingar, virði og symbol, ið ung geva bilum og bilkoyring
í dag. Teksturin hyggur serliga at frítíðini, sosiala sam-
skiftinum og mentanarliga samleikanum við tí fyri eyga
at skilja og allýsa støðuna og leiklutin, ið bilurin hevur
millum ung. Risiko-atferðin og hugburðurin hjá bil-
forarum verða kannað við hesum spurningum í huga:
Hvussu tulka ung sjálv sína risiko-atferð? Hvussu sam-
skifta ung sínar royndir og sína vitan viðvíkjandi trygd
og vanda í bilkoyring? Málið við tekstinum er at geva
eina nýggja mynd av einum evni, ið hevur verið eyð-
kent av sterkari samfelagsligari fordøming av hugburði
og atferð ungdómsins.
Introduction
There is a peculiar relationship between
youth and cars. Young people themselves
consider car driving as praxis tailored to
youth cultures. The car symbolizes the
vivaciousness and hedonism in their life-
styles. The private car is the vehicle to
success in social endeavours among peers.
Without access to a car many young people
feel detached from popular social networks
in their local community. The car is the key
to free, funny and sensual lifestyles. But free-
dom involves danger. Car driving is hence
also a question of risk calculation and crucial
decision-making on the roads. Risk beha-
viour is part of the style of many young men,
blamed for being devils on wheels in the
media. This article takes a closer look at the
so-called ' car cultures’ of young people in
the Faroe Islands. It takes the reader on a trip
with these introductory statements as a
roadmap. The article discusses youth, cars
Fróðskaparrit 57. bók 2009: 59-76