Reykjavík Grapevine - 28.09.2013, Side 2

TRACK OF THE ISSUE
Years of quiet krúttitude being the
norm around town have resulted in a
youthful revolt of twisting and shout-
ing, with no other band doing it as
loudly as newcomers Grísalappalísa.
These dudes are cynical and jaded
and they sure as hell want you to
know it! Sort out your inner turmoil
with the help of this furious punk
tune that proves that being angst rid-
den and existentially confused lin-
gers on well past adolescence, and
that is a-fucking-okay!
Grísalappalísa: “Skrítin Birta”
Download NOW at www.grapevine.is
2The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 15 — 2013
Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík
www.grapevine.is
grapevine@grapevine.is
Published by Fröken ehf.
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Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association
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Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 25.000 copies.
Editor In Chief:
Haukur S Magnússon / haukur@grapevine.is
Editor:
Anna Andersen / anna@grapevine.is
Editorial:
+354 540 3600 / editor@grapevine.is
Advertising:
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Publisher:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is
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Editorial | Anna Andersen
ICELANDISTAN 5.0
WHAT A DIFFERENCE
FIVE YEARS MAKE
Anna’s 32nd Editorial
By Haukur S. Magnússon
Five years ago, The Grapevine published its first
post-collapse issue. The cover featured the image
of a single króna coin, its fish reduced to a mere
skeleton. “Welcome to Icelandistan!” read the
cover tag.
Nobody could know exactly what was in store
for Iceland in early October 2008, but the future
certainly looked grim. “HOLY FUCK!” wrote then-
editor of the Grapevine, Sveinn Birkir Björnsson,
in his editorial that issue. “The last few weeks
have wreaked more havoc on this country than
anything that’s not directly caused by a natural
disaster. Our economy has been reduced to the
standards of Eastern Europe at end of the Cold
War. As a nation, we are more or less bankrupt.”
Almost overnight, our tiny island nation in the
middle of the North Atlantic became the poster-
child for the global economic crisis—a shiny ex-
ample of how to do everything wrong. Enraged
Icelanders took to the streets and banged on their
pots and pans until the government that presided
over the crash toppled over.
In came Iceland’s first purely left-wing govern-
ment, and before we knew it we had become the
poster child for miraculous economic recovery—
an equally shiny example of how to do everything
right. In particular, the fact that “Iceland let the
banks fail” became a catchphrase appearing in
almost every post-crash article written about Ice-
land in the foreign media.
So much emphasis has been put on this (only
possible) course of action that Icelanders them-
selves have perhaps forgotten what else the new
government has done to stem the rippling effects
of the crash, not to mention all of the events that
led up to it. This would at least explain why Ice-
landers recently returned to power the very same
parties that presided over the country as it geared
up for meltdown.
Or perhaps the fact that we’re not living in Ice-
landistan simply isn’t good enough and Iceland-
ers now dream of returning to pre-crash Iceland.
After all, we’re going to have to find some way to
use those new 10,000 ISK bills—roughly equiva-
lent to the 100 Dollar bill—that are about to go into
circulation.
Five years have apparently passed since the
dreaded economic collapse of October 2008
shook the Icelandic nation to its core. We at Grape-
vine think this makes for an excellent opportunity
to look back on just what happened and attempt to
discern what, if anything, we have learned since.
A lot of people theorized (and hoped) that
the collapse would mark a sea change in the na-
tion’s politics and attitudes towards its economy,
lifestyle and mode of discourse. That the media
would and supervisory authorities would turn
vigilant, that we would never get fooled again.
Has such a sea change occurred? It’s hard to
tell when you’re right in the thick of things, but
there are certainly mixed opinions out there.
In our attempts to understand and analyse the
events that have been unfolding over the past
five years, we turned to two noted pundits on the
opposite ends of the political spectrum, Sigrún
Daví!sdóttir and Hannes Hólmsteinn Gissurarson
(fun game: guess which end each inhabits!). We
also asked former PM Jóhanna Sigur!ardóttir and
her collaborator, former Minister of Everything
Steingrímur J. Sigfússon (who manned the gov-
ernment decks for most of the past four years) to
share their thoughts on the situation, along with
the guys currently in charge, PM Sigmundur Daví!
Gunnlaugsson and his collaborator, Minister of
Finance Bjarni Benediktsson While the latter two
did not respond to our repeated attempts for com-
ment (which is unfortunate, and might be telling
for their style of governance), Steingrímur shared
some good thoughts and Jóhanna surprised us
by turning in a sharp, condemning article that we
later learned is her first public commentary since
this spring’s election.
Finally, the diligent journalist Sam Knight me-
ticulously poured over the WikiLeaks diplomatic
cables (from #CABLEGATE) concerning Iceland.
The results are a revealing account of Iceland’s
economic collapse, as seen through the eyes of
US diplomats stationed in Iceland at the time.
There is a lot of juicy and revealing behind-the-
scenes stuff in there, and the article itself grants
important insight into what happened, placing
some of the events in a new context. Thank you,
Chelsea.
There’s a lesson in there somewhere, one we
need to take to heart and remember. Let this be
the first of many collapsaversary celebrations.
Skál.
On the cover: Gu!mundur Brigir
Halldórsson a.k.a the face of kreppan
Photographer: Magnús Andersen
magnusandersen.co
Clothes: JÖR & Álafoss
Contributing Writers
Björn Teitsson
Bowen Staines
Daví! Roach
Hannes H. Gissurarson
Jóhanna Sigur!ardóttir
John Rogers
Kári Tulinius
Larissa Kyzer
Mark Asch
Óli Dóri
Parker Yamasaki
Patricia "ormar
Sigrún Daví!sdóttir
Snorri Páll Jónsson Úlfhildarson
Journalist
Larissa Kyzer / larissa@grapevine.is
Journalist & Listings editor
Rebecca Louder / rebecca@grapevine.is
Editorial Interns
Tómas Gabríel Benjamin / gabriel@grapevine.is
Jonas Kellermeyer / jonas@grapevine.is
Katarina Landström / katarina@grapevine.is
Kristján Leitma / kristjan@grapevine.is
Art Director
Hör!ur Kristbjörnsson / hordur@dodlur.is
Design:
Hrefna Sigur!ardóttir / hrefna@dodlur.is
Photographers:
Alísa Kalyanova / www. alisakalyanova.com
Magnús Anderssen / www.magnusandersen.co
Nanna Dís / www.nannadis.com
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YOUR FREE COPY THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO LIFE, TRAVEL & ENTERTAINMENT IN ICELAND
! 2013
September 28 - October 10
Issue 15
+ Complete Reykjavík Listings Lots of cool events Download the FREE Grapevine Appy Hour app!Every happy hour in town in your pocket. Available on the App store and on Android Market.
THE MORE
THINGS CHANGE,
THE MORE
THEY STAY
THE SAME...
POLITICSNEWS FILM MUSIC TRAVEL
Jóhanna
Sigur!ardóttir
SPEAKS!
The gender-based
wage gap widens :(
Lots and lots of
RIFF!
Bam brings us
“Random Hero”
We let fish suck on
our toes…
YEARS
2003-2013
5 year anniversary of the collapse
2008- 2013
Founders:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hör!ur Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigur!arson,
Oddur Óskar Kjartansson,
Valur Gunnarsson
The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 18 times a year by Fröken ltd.
Monthly from November through April, and fortnightly from May
til October. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole
or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The
Reykjavík Grapevine is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri,
Egilssta!ir, Sey!isfjör!ur, Borgarnes, Keflavík, Ísafjör!ur and at key
locations along road #1, and all major tourist attractions and tourist
information centres in the country.
You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no articles
in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions
expressed are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’).
www.fontana.is
Be in your
element
GEOTHERMAL
STEAM ROOMS
THERMAL
BATHS
SAUNA
The perfect rest stop between Thingvellir and Geysir
Open everyday 11-21
Make sure your Golden Circle tour completes the geothermal experience
Visit the Laugarvatn Fontana wellness centre. Relax in steam rooms over a natural
hot spring and open air thermal baths. Afterwards try local delicacies in our café.
Ask us how the locals at Laugarvatn use the steam baths!
. .i

. l i t r l
l l li i i f .
!