A Case Study: The Stockholmer


Posted February 15, 2013 in Arts

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Think you know who you are? Think again. Totally Stockholm has interviewed three experts on the typical Stockholmer. Here’s who you are, where you came from and where you are going…

The past:

Rebecka Lennartsson, associate professor at the department of ethnology at Stockholms stadsmuseum.

Rebecka Lennartsson

Stockholm has grown from being a tiny trade town to what is sometimes referred to as Venice of the North. Ethnologist Rebecka Lennartsson gives her take on Stockholm through the ages – and what it takes to become a real Stockholmer (it is easier than you think).

At what point would you say that Stockholm became a city of importance in a European or global context?

During the era of the Swedish Empire back in the 15th century, the country was somewhat of a powerhouse in Europe. However, the numerous scientific excursions as well as trade with other continents influenced Stockholm more than Stockholm influenced the world. When looking through material involving 16th century Stockholm, you realize how the rest of the world was omnipresent in the city in those days, in the form of Germans, Dutch, French, Romany and fugitive slaves. In spite of a historically extrovert strategy, Stockholm has always been, and still is, a marginal town in a global context. Nonetheless, I would say that to many – Swedes and foreigners alike – the city represents freedom in many respects.

What background does the average citizen of Stockholm have?

Not supported by science, I guess that the most common inhabitants come from many different parts of Sweden as well as the rest of the world – and that they consider those parts ”home” rather than Stockholm. From a general perspective, the typical citizen of Stockholm is extremely heterogeneous and accustomed to a life marked by renewal, change and tying in to new bearings.

At what stage do people consider themselves being real Stockholmers?

In a survey conducted by Stockholm City Museum, we asked newcomers to Stockholm about the different experiences they had moving here. When asked whether or not they felt like Stockholmers, very few answers dealt with kinship. Instead, feeling like a true Stockholmer was born out of people’s ability to navigate around town and master the infrastructure. We would have suspected that more replies would involve personal relationships and interactions to fellow citizens.

So to many, it is about being able to “manage” the city rather than cultivating relationships. Is there a homogenous opinion about the Stockholmer?

The opinions are multifaceted where on the one hand, Stockholm is perceived as a place that alienate and isolate people in a generally cold and superficial environment, and on the other hand is considered to be an open and tolerant place with plenty of opportunities.

What are your sentiments about Stockholm and its evolution through history?

Not being a citizen of Stockholm, I enjoy it as a daily visitor as I work in town. Come nighttime, I drive home along gravel roads to a completely serene and tranquil environment in the countryside where I can relax and be grateful for having the fortune of living in two worlds. Finally I hope that we learn from history when building cities for generations to come.

The present:

stefan nilsson

Stefan Nilsson, trends analyst at Trendgruppen

With an ever-increasing pace in which trends shift, it is Stefan Nilsson’s job to stay on top of it all. In his position at Trendgruppen, he frequently travels the world to get a sense of what goes on out there – and compares it to the goings-on in our own country.

What role does Stockholm play in the world today?

Stockholm really is the capital of Scandinavia, not only because the tourist board says so, but because of the amount of media influence that the city generates. If you are keen on getting a quick overview of Scandinavian values and lifestyle, you are sure to get a thorough introduction to it in Stockholm.

Stockholm is sometimes referred to as one of the trendiest cities in the world. Why does the average Stockholmer feel the urge to keep up with what goes on in the world?

Stockholmers and Swedes – and also Scandinavians in general – are curious by nature. This is a positive character trait. We are inquisitive when it comes to new phenomena outside of our nation’s borders. Compare this to for example Italians, Spaniards and Americans, who are mostly interested in what goes on within their own country.

What sparks this curiosity?

Stockholmers are digitalized – all of us own a computer and a majority of the urbanities have a smart phone. Plus we speak English.

Those are the pros. What are the cons to this curiosity?

Stockholm is extremely homogeneous. We are all interested in the same trends, and we have an exorbitant need to blend in. So we generally choose to adapt a trend in a very restrained way.

Is Stockholm of that global importance as we sometimes wish to believe?

Many believe that Stockholm is a test market for new trends, but that is not the case any longer. It is true that Stockholmers are trendy, but we are only great at following the trends. No actual trends are created here, in the way that they are generated in metropolitan cities such as London, Paris, Milan and New York.

What signifies a Stockholmer to you?

As a sixth generation Stockholmer, I truly feel that the “real” Stockholmers are generous, open and curious. I think that the arrogant Stockholmer sometimes referred to are often the newcomers with a need to assert themselves. But I acknowledge that there might be a slight ignorance among many Stockholmers. How many, for instance, know where on the map to find Skellefteå?

How do people abroad view Stockholmers?

As good-natured, naïve and sexy. A Stockholmer is easily spotted in for example India: he or she has great skin, is tall and healthy looking – and wears shorts that are way to short and a top that shows too much cleavage. Stockholmers will meet your gaze with openness.

What can Stockholm learn from other capitals around the world?

Culture and awareness. Stockholm is a very party and shopping-oriented town, but in for example Berlin the whole city goes out to see new, talked-about operas. In other cities, it is commonplace to visit museums, theatres or the opera. We need to cultivate a deeper interest in the culture scene – it places our world in context and infuses nourishment to the soul.

The future:

Joachim Granit, creative director at Färgfabriken

With the exhibition Stockholm on the Move (running until March 24), experimental art space Färgfabriken wants to put the Stockholm of the future in the spotlight. Joachim Granit, the mastermind behind the project, shares his prospective visions for the Swedish capital and its inhabitants.

Are Stockholmers to be content with the current position we’ve staked out for ourselves in the world?

That is all a matter of definition. What world map are we looking at? When it comes to culture, fashion, gastronomy, art and innovation, I feel that we can be quite content with what we’ve accomplished considering the size of our city. But if we look at a map outlining housing, it is completely misdrawn – especially for young people.

Some years ago, Stockholm would top the lists of the world’s most liveable cities, but in recent years our position at the top has been slipping. What could we do to make the city even more attractive in the future?

The attractiveness of a place depends on several factors that have to come together in one. I feel that social matters, culture in different forms, employment and living are important components for a city to work well. We need housing and spaces for people that want to start up businesses, and at reasonable costs. The current cost of living pushes away creativity.

If you take a look in the crystal ball, what is key to keep in mind in the creation of the Stockholm of the future?

We must plan for the unplanned. There has to be certain flexibility in the way we think about and plan for what is to come. A globalized world will come with its fair share of surprises. We must understand the consequences of the great efforts made in the building of infrastructure – and the monumental investments connected to it. We need to think about the kind of society we want to build for future generations.

How did you work with these ideas in Stockholm on the Move?

Beginning by looking at Stockholm’s infrastructure, there are amazing opportunities in filling these with interesting functionality, giving them new content and meaning. For example, the public transportation hubs out there are both visually and functionally inferior. We need to make these both practical and aesthetically pleasing by really concentrating our efforts on them. Several well-functioning hubs will offer viable alternatives to a society built for private motoring.

How do you envision the city’s future inhabitants?

I believe that we have learned to accept differences on communal and individual levels alike. The multitude of the citizen’s cultural references and experiences will be seen as resources.

How will we live?

The hierarchy between various types of housing and neighbourhoods will have ceased. The suburbs might be upgraded with commerce and different types of businesses. Our decentralized government functions will be moved back to the Stockholm area, and placed in for example Södertälje and Rinkeby.

And the Stockholmer of the future – what is he or she like in a nutshell?

The future Stockholmer is already here, and will in the future be an individual with even more driving force and useful experiences. I would like to believe that we are open and curious, but I guess that is for someone from out of town to decide…

words // Magnus Wittbjer and Micha van Dinther

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