Reykjavík Grapevine - 15.08.2014, Blaðsíða 2

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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 1 — 2011
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
Journalist:
Larissa Kyzer / larissa@grapevine.is
Journalist & Listings editor
Tómas Gabríel Benjamin / gabriel@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
Contributing Writers:
Árni Árnason
Björn Teitsson
Davíð Roach
Eli Petzold
Jessica Solt
Kári Tulinius
Lawrence Millman
Magnús Sveinn Helgason
Michael Leonard
Óli Dóri
Patricia Þormar
Paul Fontaine
Ragnar Egilsson
Vera Illugadóttir
Þórir Bogason
Editorial Interns:
Arnulfo Hermes / arnulfo@grapevine.is
Rebecca Scott Lord / rebecca@grapevine.is
Susanna Lam / susanna@grapevine.is
Tyler Clevenger / tyler@grapevine.is
Art Director:
Hörður Kristbjörnsson / hordur@dodlur.is
Layout:
Hrefna Sigurðardóttir
Photographers:
Alísa Kalyanova / www. alisakalyanova.com
Nanna Dís / www.nannadis.com
Sales Director:
Aðalsteinn Jörundsson / adalsteinn@grapevine.is
Helgi Þór Harðarson / helgi@grapevine.is
Óskar Freyr Pétursson / oskar@grapevine.is
Distribution manager:
distribution@grapevine.is
Proofreader:
Mark Asch
releases:
listings@grapevine.is
Submissions inquiries:
editor@grapevine.is
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General inquiries:
grapevine@grapevine.is
Founders:
Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson,
Hörður Kristbjörnsson,
Jón Trausti Sigurðarson,
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 repro-
duced in whole or in part without the written permission of
the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine is distributed around
Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilsstaðir, Seyðisfjörður, Borgarnes,
Keflavík, Ísafjörður 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’).
Painting by: Þrándur Þórarinsson,
as commissioned by The Reykjavík
Grapevine. Based on Hugleikur Dagsson's
"Hidden People," which appeared in TRG
issue 01, 2009.
(www.thrandur.com)
(www.dagsson.com)
Comic | Lóa Hjálmtýsdóttir
Editorial In Chief | Haukur S. Magnússon
Music | Free
You won't find Prins Póló's unexpected summer
hit "París norðursins" ("Paris Of The North") on
the act's recent LP 'Sorrí' ('Sorry'). Written and
recorded specifically for the purpose, the song
features in a highly anticipated film of the same
name, which hits theatres in early September and
should be pretty great if the Prince's contribution
is anything to go by.
With its infectious melody, steady beat and
haunting lyrics, “París norðursins” is already a
contender for the coveted title of "Iceland's Sum-
mer Jam 2014" Head to www.grapevine.is, down-
load your free .mp3, turn it up and see if it doesn't
get you moving.
EXTRA! EXTRA!
Prins Póló is playing a show at Húrra TONIGHT!
And guess what! The first person to drop us a line
(letters@grapevine.is) with the subject "PRINS
ME UP" scores a couple of tickets for the show
AND a copy of 'Sorrí,' all courtesy of the good
Prince himself. Nice!
"París norðursins"
Prins Póló's
Download the FREE track at www.grapevine.
I Choose Treason
I just signed up to become a founding member of
Fylkisflokkurinn (“The County-Party”), which has
the stated purpose and sole platform of campaigning
for Iceland to re-join Norway and become its twentieth
county. I was the 573rd Icelander to do so according
to the would-be political party’s website (fylkisflok-
kurinn.is), while the Facebook group that launched
it currently lists over 4,600 members (many of them
very enthusiastic!) and counting.
Proponents of Iceland’s independence might call
me a traitor to the country that bore me—they might
even go so far as to accuse me of treason. And I won’t
lie: I felt a slight shiver of regret as I hit “send” to sub-
mit my information to Fylkisflokkurinn’s website,
thereby affirming my desire to become a founding
member to a single-issue party whose only demand
is that Icelanders beg Mother Norway to take them
back—reinvoking Gamli sáttmáli (“The Old Cov-
enant”) of 1262, which my childhood history class
described as Iceland’s ultimate nadir.
Have I just enraged all of my purportedly noble
forefathers, who seemingly fought so hard and long
for Iceland’s independence? Are they all rolling
around in their graves? Am I to be a pariah in the af-
terlife, doomed to spend eternity cowering in a dank
corner as Iceland’s fabled independence heroes scowl
at me, cursing my callow actions as a coward’s fum-
bling panic?
I have no idea. I don’t particularly believe in an
afterlife, any more than I believe in the inevitability
or permanence of nation states—and any desire to be
liked and respected by my ancestors’ potential ghosts
is trumped by another desire I harbour, one I have fos-
tered since my teens.
I’m speaking of the desire to be governed by
adults. Somewhat responsible, somewhat competent
adults, if possible.
Which is something I’ve yet to experience in my 33
years as an Icelander.
---
The man behind Fylkisflokkurinn, former editor
Gunnar Smári Egilsson, claims that “Iceland is just
too small to raise talented politicians,” and that its
population’s miniscule numbers also prevent it from
raising and nurturing “properly talented people.”
While I take issue with the latter part of his claim
(surely we can all agree that Icelandic music, for in-
stance, is far superior to that of the Danes—everyone
knows how much Danish music sucks), I wholeheart-
edly endorse the former. As a news-junkie and politi-
cal enthusiast since boyhood, I have endured constant
embarrassment and turmoil on account of our elected
officials for over twenty years now.
Indeed, in recent years one of Iceland’s only politi-
cians who hasn’t appeared outright laughable under
scrutiny is a comedian..
You might think I’m being unfair, but the results
speak for themselves. They really do. That infamous
TOTAL ECONOMIC COLLAPSE aside—which was
borne of that special Icelandic mix of irresponsibility,
nepotism, hubris and complete disregard for rules—
there are plenty of cases in point.
Listen: With Iceland’s abundant resources, scant
population numbers and the relative freedom from
disease and warfare that isolation brings, Icelanders
can arguably be called the most privileged, opportune
people on Earth. Iceland has every potential to be a
sort of Scandinavian Shangri-La, a slightly cooler land
of milk and honey. Yet, as folks from all over the globe
flock to the island to experience its “celebrated cul-
ture” and “pristine nature,” natives are busy fleeing in
record numbers, seeking greener pastures elsewhere
(in fact, many of them have made the move to Norway.
In fact, at least ten out of my childhood class of 60 or so
are currently proud Norwegians. Heja, guys! Miss u).
This is not the mark of a properly functioning de-
mocracy. If “voting with one’s feet” is a real thing, the
results are in.
The numbers don’t lie.
---
Many perceive Gunnar Smári’s campaign to re-join
Norway as a cunning bit of political satire—a fun
way to express dismay at the way Iceland is being
run, while taunting the anti-EU factions that glee-
fully sabotaged the nation’s every attempt to engage in
constructive conversation about the possible benefits
of joining the European Union. That might be true.
It’s hard to imagine a better, more entertaining way to
circumvent the proto-fascist nationalistic propaganda
that’s been poisoning local discourse since the col-
lapse.
Still, the man (a notorious antagonist) maintains
a straight face throughout every interview on the sub-
ject, always appearing dead serious.
As for myself, do I really want Iceland to rejoin
Norway (aka SNOREWAY)? Or am I trying to do my
part in conveying a point I believe important? To quote
Sarcastic Teenager #2 from that classic Simpsons epi-
sode, “Homerpalooza”:
“I don’t even know anymore.”
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The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 12 — 2014