Communication& ContemporaryCulture in Finland
Introduction to Finnish Culture and HistoryScand. 132, Spring 2009, 5.5.2009University of California, BerkeleyVilma Luoma‐aho, PhD, DocentVinnova Stanford Research Center of Innovation Journalism, Stanford University
"things you need to know but wouldn't ask”
© Vilma Luoma‐aho May 2009
What first comes to your mind about Finland…
Agenda today
• Some basic background information on Contemporary culture & life
• Funny current affairs
• “Things you need to know but wouldn't ask”Interactive game & explanations
Main concepts
• Finnish Sisu Strength of will, determination, perseverance, “guts“
• NokiaA city, rubber‐boots, tractors, cell phones
• KalevalaA unifying oral heritage, source of brands
• MökkiA summer cabin near a lake somewhere with a sauna
Main Calendar Events of a Finn• Itsenäisyyspäivä 6.12.
– A ball at the President’s Castle, concerts, talks, badges for citizens
• Joulu 24.‐26.12.
– Christ’s birth celebrated, Santa comes on the evening of the 24th to brings presents
• Uusivuosi 31.12.
– Rockets are shot, people eat sausages & potato salad, some cast tin
• Pääsiäinen
– Christ’s resurrection, chocolate eggs, kids dressed up as witches go trick or treating, big bonfires
• Vappu 1.5.
– Students and workers celebrate, ”crowning” of cultural statues, heavy drinking, balloons, speaches
• Juhannus 24.6.
– ”Kokko” Bonfires, people stay up late, barbeque food at Mökki , all of Finland is closed down
KEHÄ III
Strongest”culturalbaggage”
Divide between the country side & the cities
Divide between the after‐war babyboomers and millennials
Estonians
Starting points
• The silent Finns of short answers (summer vrs. winter)
• The most ”American” Country in Europe (minus the service)
• Most coffee drinkers in the world/population
• Largest variety of candy
• World’s 2nd least corrupt country (Transparency International)
• World’s most innovative country (Forrester Research)
• World’s most competitive country (Forbes)
• Best in PISA (math & writing)
Businessweek 2009Global CompetitivenessNo. 6: Finland (-4 vs. last year)Market Size: 49Innovation: 3Education/Training: 1
To capitalize on its leading position in the high-tech sector, Finland promotes close ties between universities and the business community. That has helped cement the country's global lead in education and training-a category in which it has ranked first for several years. A world-class health-care system and top-notch financial institutions also have made Finland one of the countries to beat.
Starting points• Extensive universal welfare• Work‐life –balance is valued (long holidays for all)
• Independency & self‐reliancyimportant (individualistic)
• Suicidal (10th) • Mass consumers of pizza• Country of Clubs (social capital)• Heavy emphasis on equality• Finnish culture: ”Everyone else has a better culture than we do”
Culture defining Show:Kummeli 1990s on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60tpAmHJGR0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60tpAmHJGR0
”Kanada”
”Artisti maksaa”
Culture defining cartoon:Viivi ja Wagner, HS online 30.4.2009
The typical relationship: Finnish men as honest but still pigs, women as dominating with good intentions and ideals.
Culture defining cartoon:Viivi ja Wagner, HS online 15.4.2009
Critique to contemporary & political issues: Wagner does it better: Wagner has rented out their balcony for nuclear waste storage, started an elite prison for financial bankers in their livingroom and made an MA‐thesis machine.
Cola Olli
”Liian hapokasta, ei pysty””Too much acid, no can do”
”Tuliko se yllätyksenä?””Did that come as a surprise?”
Ennätystehdas
Conan O’brien & Finland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1WcS4UZKOUhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vzwbt4m_KWM
Confessions of a shopaholic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5muyAz5DYM
Mitä kaipaat suomesta? Korvapuusteja.
South Park, Finland’s dead
”Finland’s thinking about telling the SpaceCops the Truth…”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67uBwbYaJKI
Pelataan! Let’s Play!
• 17 questions, several alternatives, 1‐3 are correct!
• Choose the one that matches the cultural norms and expectations of Finland, choose one that a Finn would choose
• Write down why (1‐2 minutes)
• Be ready to discuss your answer
• Each correct one gives you a point, each false answer reduces one
• Grading the Finnish way: nobody cheats
1. On the Street
a) To say ”Hei” and smile warmlyb) To nod and then look awayc) To avoid eye‐contact and look aheadd) To look them in the eye but not say
anythinge) What other people? I’m walking too fast
to notice
You see people on the street. You do not know them. The expected behavior is:
2. On the Street
a) To nod and then look awayb) To stop and exchange a few wordsc) To stop and ask how they are doingd) To look them in the eye but not say
anythinge) To say ”Hei” but keep walking
You meet people on the street. You know them, you havetalked to them before. The expected behavior is:
3. Talking
a) ”Nothing much going on”b) ”I’m fine, how are you?”c) Detailed info on your current state and
doingsd) To look them in the eye but not say
anythinge) To tell of your latest flu or problems
Someone asks you”Mitä kuuluu?” Howare you‐What shouldyou say?
4. Starting a conversation
a) You don’t, it’s considered flirtingb) ”Excuse me, can you help me…”c) By complaining about somethingd) ”Nice to meet you, my name is..”e) Look people in the eye
How do you start a conversation at a cafe?
5. Kahvilat,Coffeehouses
a) Coffeehouses are not for workingb) Most coffeehouses are self‐servec) Coffeehouses provide you with free
newspapersd) Coffeehouses are great places for datinge) You do not tip in a coffeehouse
Which of the followingis not true?
6. Transportation
a) You sit near the driverb) You sit next to someonec) You sit near other people but aloned) You sit as far away from other people
as possible
In a bus, tram or train ifseating is not assigned and there is plenty of space…
7. Day at work
a) Arrive 6 am, lunch at noon, leave 3 pm b) Arrive 8 am, coffee 9 am, lunch 11 am, coffee 2 pm,
leave 5 pmc) Arrive any time before 9, leave any time after 4d) Arrive 10 am, have long lunches and stay all day,
start working at 4 pm, work until 9 pme) Work from home all day & all night
Which one of these is a typicalwork‐day in any office?
8. In the store
a) You find a salesperson and ask them to help youb) You pick the fruit yourself into a bagc) You pick the fruit yourself and weigh it and print
the price sticker onto the bag, it is checked at the cashier
d) You pick the fruit yourself and weigh it and printthe price sticker onto the bag, it is not checkedat the cashier
e) Fruit already comes in bags, just grab one
You want to buy fruit in a store. How do you do it?
9. When somethingbad happens..
a) Send them a card telling you’re sorryb) Nothing, give them space to mournc) Show up at their doorstep with foodd) Show up at their doorstep singinge) Call them up immediately, no matter
what time it is
A friend breaks up from a long‐time relationship, getsfired, loses money… whatdo you do?
10. When somethinggood happens..
a) Nothing, who has joy should hide itb) Sing a congratulating songc) Say ”No! Really? That’s unfair!” d) Say ”What goes around comes
around”e) Say ”I am so happy for you”
A friend starts a relationship, wins money, gets a new job… what do you say or do?
11. Schedule
a) Confirm the same dayb) Confirm the week beforec) Confirm an a few hours befored) Just show upe) Rearrange the whole meeting a few
days before
When something is scheduled 3 weeks fromnow, you’ll have to…
12. PARTY!
a) Working late, meeting up people for drinks, goingclubbing until 5 am
b) Ending the day early, driving to the country side for skiing or swimming & sauna
c) Ending the day early, going home first, to sauna withyour friends, having a few drinks at home and wakingup somewhere very different
d) Working late and going out to the movies or a hockey game with a large group of friends and very much fastfood
e) Leaving work at the normal time, Spending qualitytime in front of the TV equipped with order‐in pizza and a large amount of candy
A great Friday night consistsof the following:
13. Family celebrations
a) Singing, dancing, good food & laughter in a laid‐back athmosphere
b) Drinking quietly until everyone is drunk and starts talking, fighting and singing
c) Official speeches, formal dress coded) Standing and sitting around quietly in formal
wear and eating the food that is servede) Stealing food and sneaking outside to have
fun with your own friends
Graduation, confirmation.. parties at home consist of
14. Family life
a) Highly involved: parents know everything the children do and like to participate in and drivethem to their events and hobbies
b) Mediated: parents hire nannies and drivers and coaches to take care of their children
c) Mediated: the government assigns after‐school‐daycarers for children
d) Not really involved: kids go to their hobbies on their own and parents attend parents’ nights
e) Totally disinvolved: parents and kids have theirown schedules and lives and meals
Bringing up children and running a home in Finland is usually:
15. Dating
a) Via internet dating services and websitesb) Going out on dates and getting to know
each other with timec) Sitting around in coffee houses and talkingd) Drinking until you get the courage to talk
to the opposite sexe) Via dating beepers that connect you to the
right people wherever you are
Meeting people and going out in Finland consists of:
16. Music
a) TUSKA (pain) Heavy Metal Festival
b) PUISTO (park) BLUES
c) SIBELIUS IN THE SAUNA Festival
d) TANGO‐Markkinat
e) PORI JAZZ Festival
f) ANKKAROCK (Duck‐rock)
Finns like music and festivals.. Which of these is NOT a Finnish Summer Music Festival?
17. Eldercare
a) Ask them to move in with you (if you are the eldest child)
b) Buy an apartment nearby and help them
c) Apply for a caretaker from the government
d) Get them into an institution or assisted place
e) Nothing, everyone arranges their own life
Your parents are getting old and can no longer make it alone. What do you do?
RESULTS
17‐30 correct: ”Todellinen suomalainen”, 5 stars! Onneksi olkoon! Osaat lämmittää saunan, tiedät milloin vaieta ja löydät helposti valitettavaa.
11‐16 correct: ”Tulossa suomalaiseksi”, 3 stars: olet menossa oikeaan suuntaan, mutta vielä liian avoin ja puhelias.
5‐10 correct: ”Tarvitaan paljon harjoitusta” 1 star: suomalaisuuteen tarvitaan paljon hiljaisuutta ja rauhaa: mene retkeilemään yksin viikoksi ja tee testi uudestaan.
0‐4 correct: ”Suomalaisuus ei sovi sinulle”: oletko harkinnut vaihtaa suomentuntejasi espanjantunneiksi? Nyt kannattaa harkita.
Give yourself 1 point for each correctanswer. Add up your points and see:
Communication& ContemporaryCulture in Finland
Introduction to Finnish Culture and HistoryScand. 132, Spring 2009, 5.5.2009University of California, BerkeleyVilma Luoma‐aho, PhD, DocentVinnova Stanford Research Center of Innovation Journalism, Stanford University
Questions, comments?
