Reykjavík Grapevine - 28.09.2013, Blaðsíða 2

Reykjavík Grapevine - 28.09.2013, Blaðsíða 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. www.froken.is Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association www.saf.is 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: +354 540 3605 / ads@grapevine.is +354 40 3610 Publisher: Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson / hilmar@grapevine.is +354 540 3601 / publisher@grapevine.is 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 Sales Director: A!alsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is Helgi "ór Har!arson / helgi@grapevine.is Distribution manager: distribution@grapevine.is Proofreader: Jim Rice Listings: listings@grapevine.is Submissions inquiries: editor@grapevine.is Subscription inquiries: +354 540 3605 / subscribe@grapevine.is General inquiries: grapevine@grapevine.is 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 . !

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