Finland in no Funnyland.

Here in Finland there was an article in the paper today about last nights episode of SNL featuring the always lovely and delightful Katy Perry on a Finnish talk show. It was a mediocre little sketch, hardly LOL material (see post below). But the tone of the article was of great offense (how dare they!) and puzzlement (how could they!)  The locals get very defensive whenever they are portrayed or mentioned in the wider world. Anytime a Finn gets a small role in Hollywood its a mainstream media headline here. The talented and vert well known here Finnish actor and L.A. waiter Peter Franzen had a 3 min. role as Erics's brother on "True Blood" (spoken in SWEDISH) and it was in the media for days! Some chick got an extra role in a Lady Gaga video and its written about with great pride! But it seems if you attempt to look humorously at the Finns its a massive insult. 


This part of the world is not renowned for having a sense of humor. Granted the Brits are funny, but Finns make Germans look downright jolly and even the Russians appear to laugh more. Finnish humor is based on the same things Finnish drama, music, and literature are: drunkeness, promiscuity, and violence and its tragic or hilarious consequences.


Maybe its because the higher the self esteem, the easier it is to laugh at ones self. Finns have a notoriously low self image you will often hear them actually moan "Sorry for being" meaning literally "I apologize for my existence" I have never seen this in any other nationality, and believe me I've met many in my ramblings. This low opinion of themselves is in extreme contrast to national pride "I may a be worthless nonentity, BUT, my country is the greatest on the planet, Dammit!" face red, spit flying, fists pounding, PERKELE! drinks spilling, knives drawn, crying, bruised and hung over in the drunk tank. 


There seems to be a deep insecurity in most Finns, I don't suffer from it as I spent my life growing up in more culturally diverse and positively charged areas of the world. When you have confidence and someone teases or mocks you can laugh it off and offer an insult or joke in return. You don't sulk and complain about it, you don't attempt to analyse the profound implications or deeper motivations of the joke or joker and you certainly do not earnestly try to defend your position.  Just listen to a Finn trying to defend the utterly disgusting burnt rubber taste of "Salmiakki" candy "No its good, you just have get used to it" blah... blah... blah...


Then there are those grim, ashen souled, tight ass bureaucrats who fear any less then reverential mention of the nation will    tarnish the Finland "BRAND" (its obvious they have an entire tax payed funded organization devoted entirely to monitoring the worlds media and entertainment outlets for ANY mention of Finland) First of all the "Brand" is not all that well known in the world, ( how many people still think Nokia is Japanese) and secondly and most importantly as the old cliche goes, there's no such thing as BAD publicity in terms of name recognition! 


Whats the worst people with no concept of Finland will think after seeing that bit? "Finns are a bit stiff, gray and humorless, and they have weird, hard to pronounce names" HELLOOO!!
True... and after the article I'm willing to add grim, earnest, and defensive to that list of stereotypes. I wont go on about the perverted, drunken, and violent, stereotypes just yet, that's an entire other rant that I look forward to posting another day.