Last week an article by the German author Oliver Maria Schmitt caused quite a stir in Icelandic social media. The article, which was an excerpt from a book containing travel stories from around the world, was published in the German newspaper Die Welt. In it Oliver described Iceland as an obnoxious island, populated by self-important morons.
While many noted that Oliver was being sarcastic or welcomed his view as a breath of fresh wind, counteracting excessively rosy descriptions of Iceland and Icelanders, others failed to see anything funny about the article. The influential commentator, Egill Helgason, scoffed at the claim Oliver was actually funny, arguing that “a German comedian … is a contradiction in terms”.
A German Satirist and Punk Rocker
We at Iceland Magzine decided to contact Oliver and ask him what he felt about the reception his article had gotten, what he had hoped to achieve and whether he was at all serious about his judgement of Iceland and Icelanders.
It turns out Oliver is a professional satirist and punk rocker. Oliver tells us the seed of the article was sown in 2011, when Iceland was the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the world. Something about the praise which was heaped on Iceland and Icelandic culture got Oliver going:
“What do we know about Iceland in Germany: That it’s an island full of trolls and elves and beautiful people, full of ingenious musicians, talented writers, home of the highest per capita ratio of publishing houses – in other words: a paradise.”
Everyone in Germany loves Iceland, Oliver assures us, because it is almost too cool to be real. But the contrarian satirist in him could not resist the opportunity to go against the tide.
So I portrayed Iceland in an obviously satirical way, full of (false) prejudices, exaggerations, lies – and obviously full of nonsense … So my story is clearly a satirical piece of nonsense. Playing with the fact that everybody loves and admires this country full of artists, musicians and poets.”
Visited Iceland in 2008, and loved it!
The article is based on Oliver’s visit to Iceland in 2008, when he wrote an article on Reykjavík nightlife for the Allgemeine Zeitung.
“I expected nothing and was baffled: Cool kids, great party, superb music clubs like the unforgettable NASA, breath-taking landscape.”
Reykjavík nightlife, Icelandic culture and even Icelandic food, all exceeded the expectations of this cynical German traveller, evoking animalistic urges which surprised him:
“I had some bites of mink whale and immediately agreed to kill all the mink whales as this was for sure the most delicious piece of meat I ever had. I enjoyed Skyr as a legal drug all Icelanders are on.
In fact, he had only one real complaint during his 2008 visit: The fact that some Icelandic restaurants serve Puffin:
“The only thing I really hated was that puffins were offered as food in restaurants. Puffins are some of the most beautiful and loveable birds on this planet, they are tiny too, and only a very primitive lowlife character can enjoy to killing and eating such a creature.”
Honoured by the furore, inspired by Gnarr, proud standard bearer of 21st century Blefkenism
As to his inspiration, Oliver claims he has never heard of the 17th century German cleric and scholar, Dithmar Blefken, who has been detected by many Icelanders since he published a book on Iceland, Islandia, which portrayed the country and its inhabitants in a less than flattering light. “No, I’ve never heard before of Dithmar Blefken”, Oliver tells us, “but now I would make every endeavour to become his proud successor one day.”
Oliver has found a more immediate source of inspiration in the former Mayor of Reykjavík, the Comedian and former Punk Rocker Jón Gnarr, the founder of the “Best Party”, which is the most successful satirical political movement in recent history. Oliver hopes to get to visit Iceland soon, so that he can “hunt more whales, kill some puffin eaters and meet up again with my idol and friend Jón Gnarr.”
Oliver is quite pleased with the attention his article has received and feels “honoured by the furore” it has caused. At the same time he is somewhat surprised at the negative reaction it has received: “Maybe poetic and satirical freedom in Iceland ends when one mocks Iceland.” Which Oliver points out raises some questions about the national self-confidence of Icelanders:
“Only if there is no self-confidence can anyone be hurt by a small humorous article.”
Never fuck around with the glorious nation of Iceland
Considering the fact that other chapters in Oliver’s travelogue are equally outrageous, one is bound to wonder whether he has received a similar reception in other countries. It turns out few people have taken his writings as seriously as Icelanders.
“Some stories in my book have caused some minor disturbances”, which Oliver argues is “normal if you play ironically with prejudices or stereotypes.” The reaction in Iceland, however, was far more intense:
“But they weren’t not at all comparable to the reactions of some offended Icelanders. So I’ve learned my lesson: Never fuck around with the glorious nation of Iceland.”
Last week an article by the German author Oliver Maria Schmitt caused quite a stir in Icelandic social media. The article, which was an excerpt from a book containing travel stories from around the world, was published in the German newspaper Die Welt. In it Oliver described Iceland as an obnoxious island, populated by self-important morons.
While many noted that Oliver was being sarcastic or welcomed his view as a breath of fresh wind, counteracting excessively rosy descriptions of Iceland and Icelanders, others failed to see anything funny about the article. The influential commentator, Egill Helgason, scoffed at the claim Oliver was actually funny, arguing that “a German comedian … is a contradiction in terms”.
A German Satirist and Punk Rocker
We at Iceland Magzine decided to contact Oliver and ask him what he felt about the reception his article had gotten, what he had hoped to achieve and whether he was at all serious about his judgement of Iceland and Icelanders.
It turns out Oliver is a professional satirist and punk rocker. Oliver tells us the seed of the article was sown in 2011, when Iceland was the guest of honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the biggest book fair in the world. Something about the praise which was heaped on Iceland and Icelandic culture got Oliver going:
“What do we know about Iceland in Germany: That it’s an island full of trolls and elves and beautiful people, full of ingenious musicians, talented writers, home of the highest per capita ratio of publishing houses – in other words: a paradise.”
Everyone in Germany loves Iceland, Oliver assures us, because it is almost too cool to be real. But the contrarian satirist in him could not resist the opportunity to go against the tide.
So I portrayed Iceland in an obviously satirical way, full of (false) prejudices, exaggerations, lies – and obviously full of nonsense … So my story is clearly a satirical piece of nonsense. Playing with the fact that everybody loves and admires this country full of artists, musicians and poets.”
Visited Iceland in 2008, and loved it!
The article is based on Oliver’s visit to Iceland in 2008, when he wrote an article on Reykjavík nightlife for the Allgemeine Zeitung.
“I expected nothing and was baffled: Cool kids, great party, superb music clubs like the unforgettable NASA, breath-taking landscape.”
Reykjavík nightlife, Icelandic culture and even Icelandic food, all exceeded the expectations of this cynical German traveller, evoking animalistic urges which surprised him:
“I had some bites of mink whale and immediately agreed to kill all the mink whales as this was for sure the most delicious piece of meat I ever had. I enjoyed Skyr as a legal drug all Icelanders are on.
In fact, he had only one real complaint during his 2008 visit: The fact that some Icelandic restaurants serve Puffin:
“The only thing I really hated was that puffins were offered as food in restaurants. Puffins are some of the most beautiful and loveable birds on this planet, they are tiny too, and only a very primitive lowlife character can enjoy to killing and eating such a creature.”
Honoured by the furore, inspired by Gnarr, proud standard bearer of 21st century Blefkenism
As to his inspiration, Oliver claims he has never heard of the 17th century German cleric and scholar, Dithmar Blefken, who has been detected by many Icelanders since he published a book on Iceland, Islandia, which portrayed the country and its inhabitants in a less than flattering light. “No, I’ve never heard before of Dithmar Blefken”, Oliver tells us, “but now I would make every endeavour to become his proud successor one day.”
Oliver has found a more immediate source of inspiration in the former Mayor of Reykjavík, the Comedian and former Punk Rocker Jón Gnarr, the founder of the “Best Party”, which is the most successful satirical political movement in recent history. Oliver hopes to get to visit Iceland soon, so that he can “hunt more whales, kill some puffin eaters and meet up again with my idol and friend Jón Gnarr.”
Oliver is quite pleased with the attention his article has received and feels “honoured by the furore” it has caused. At the same time he is somewhat surprised at the negative reaction it has received: “Maybe poetic and satirical freedom in Iceland ends when one mocks Iceland.” Which Oliver points out raises some questions about the national self-confidence of Icelanders:
“Only if there is no self-confidence can anyone be hurt by a small humorous article.”
Never fuck around with the glorious nation of Iceland
Considering the fact that other chapters in Oliver’s travelogue are equally outrageous, one is bound to wonder whether he has received a similar reception in other countries. It turns out few people have taken his writings as seriously as Icelanders.
“Some stories in my book have caused some minor disturbances”, which Oliver argues is “normal if you play ironically with prejudices or stereotypes.” The reaction in Iceland, however, was far more intense:
“But they weren’t not at all comparable to the reactions of some offended Icelanders. So I’ve learned my lesson: Never fuck around with the glorious nation of Iceland.”
