A Momentary Lapse of Reason

A Momentary Lapse of Reason. This is what the current situation is in the media market. But only momentarily, if we are to believe the media people themselves. This weekend I attended the first to be of annual media conferences arranged by DR2 host Clement Kjersgaard and his political magazine of Ræson/Reason at the University of Copenhagen, political science section. With different angles the conference debated the future for the media and their roles in a democracy. In particular in the light of the much debated falling paying reader/viewer shares.

Among the participants were Kenneth Plummer, Director General of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation; Lisbeth Knudsen, CEO of Berlingske Media; Per Mikael Jensen, vice-president and international editor-in-chief of Metro International, publisher of the free newspaper of MetroXpress and formerly CEO of Danish TV2; Jørn Mikkelsen editor-in-chief of newspaper Jyllands-Posten; Tøger Seidenfaden editor-in-chief of newspaper Politiken; Johannes Riis publisher at the book company of Gyldendal; Anne-Marie Dohm, principal of the Danish School of Media and Journalism; Henrik Dahl MBA, sociologist and commentator - and so many more in the media business.

Directly asked by PN, Kenneth Plummer of DR was certain that the future for DR was to hold on to the strongest brands in the portfolio, and mentioned the radio programme of P3 with pop and rock music, quizzes, and interactive programmes by way of using the social media; and DR2 the narrow tv channel with in-depth background news stories, interviews, debates, theme nights, and cultural magazines. Both clearly defined segments. These two constitute the programmes with the strongest hold on specific segments of the population - that aren't likely to shift easily to other programmes. To sum up: public service assuring democratic involvement on two entirely different levels: direct involvement and interactivity through P3, and formation of public opinion through DR2.

Lisbeth Knudsen of Berlingske Media saw no reason to whine about falling reader shares. She saw these years as a transformation period seing the light of day through involvement on several platforms. Making use of the internet, the social media, and the niche shares. Directly asked by PN, her strategy was to make narrow social media niche magazines - like interests for fishery, cars, whatever. Catching the users where they are in their everyday lives - and directing them towards the in-depth investigative journalism in the serious news publications of Berlingske through cross-promoting ads and links. Neither this, nor that. But all of it.

Per Mikael Jensen of Metro International saw a strong future for 'The House of Politiken' the foundation that runs two of the major players in the print news market: Politiken and Jyllands-Posten. With an emphasis on Politiken, simply for much the same reason as mentioned by Kenneth Plummer/DR: the brand is too strong for the readers to shift easily. However, he wouldn't be surprised if both Politiken and Berlingske on print would have a drop in circulation to about 50.000, which is more or less half of today's circulation. But he saw this as a momentary condition until the media had gotten hold on the internet and social media platforms.

Tøger Seidenfaden of Politiken mostly wanted to debate current events, and referred to his decision to publish the non-compromising contents (speaking in terms of security issues for the state) of the so-called Rathsack book about a former top gun’s experiences from the Ministry of Defense. He saw these kinds of controversial stories as necessary if the news media are to take their roles seriously in a democracy. As a dedicated supporter of the news media as a watchdog for society – as the fourth power of state. Politiken already makes extensive use of social media and interactivity with its readers/viewers/users on many platforms. Which keeps the democratic debates alive.

Jørn Mikkelsen of Jyllands-Posten proclaimed that he didn’t really believe in the role of the media as the fourth power of state. The business was mainly to inform the public. And to do so in a serious and credible fashion. He was asked by moderator Kurt Strand from DR2, though, what story in Jyllands-Posten had set the agenda through 2009. And could only mention the Rathsack-story – which had been all over the media as it was.

Johannes Riis of Gyldendal told the audience at the conference that he reads three daily morning papers – Berlingske Tidende, Jyllands-Posten, and Politiken – to keep updated. But called for more quality background stories to put the constant fast news flow into context. Or what he called the cut chaff of news stories. A mash of stories that is only fit for filling the stomach, but has no high nutritition value. He called for more insight and outlook in the future media. He called for more reasoning in the media. And welcomed the standard of niche media, like Information (Left wing independent) and Kristeligt Dagblad (Right wing independent).

Anne-Marie Dohm of Danish School of Media and Journalism saw the future journalist more like a full ranged media person that could work on all available platforms, and use all available tools in the box. Like tv journalists putting together all elements of a news segment from research, to interview, to graphics, to editing. A person fit to make the same story for print as well as for tv/radio and for the internet: The Versionist. Moderator Mette Vibe Utzon, news reporter at DR1 then reasoned about the amount of time to do all tasks, and asked for the examples of ‘Versionist Cavling Prize winners’ (the most prestigious Danish Journalism Award). Since these prizes are mostly given to print and tv journalists for investigative, in-depth researched stories. And where would the time come from, if Versionists had to piece all elements together including graphics? No clear answer was given, but some internet and blog news stories were mentioned.

Commentator Henrik Dahl put the Danish democracy and political scene into a sociological context. And saw the current government as a success, mainly because the coalition parties had managed to overthrow the former Relativist political strategies, typical for for instance the Social-Liberals (B). The reasoning that all things are balanced and equally good – red/blue, East/West, Muslims/Christians/Jews. He saw the success of The Danish People’s Party (O) as this new line that clearly marked a difference between good and bad. A return to a Universalist political strategy. Where reasoning is unnecessary. This way the electorate wouldn’t be in doubt. They would get clear answers to make their choices. And a well-defined destinction.

This goes for the political strategies as it goes for the media. The polarization into blocks of opposite views. Although the Universalist political strategy seemed to be the opposite of the Versionist media strategy of bits and pieces across the board. With no clearly defined lines. And no clearly targeted segments. Paradoxical News sought sense of the media business at the conference, but mostly found a momentary lapse of reason.

I Am Lisbeth Salander

'I am Lisbeth Salander,' I would say - much like the 'I am Spartacus' supporters in the 1960 Stanley Kubrick gladiator film of Spartacus. Because I know this woman. She is based on a true story. The real person is neither a psychiatric case, nor a criminal. But a woman who dares, and who has the guts to go against men in power, who simply misuse power. She is you and me. If you haven't already read the Millennium trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, or seen the film trilogy based on his books - please do so. These are the three separate volumes of the books and films:

"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo"

"The Girl Who Played With Fire"

"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest"

Monday night I saw a pre-premiere of the last film in the trilogy The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest in the ultimate premiere cinema of Imperial in Copenhagen. Where it opens tomorrow in Denmark - alongside a long list of other Danish cinemas. Go see this kick-ass film, where Lisbeth Salander is finally vindicated. Through justice. Poetic justice. The real Lisbeth Salander deserves as much.

For further information, please see:
www.stieglarsson.com/Millennium-series
www.kino.dk/Biografer/Imperial.aspx
www.aok.dk/film/

Liberal National Congress

Whether Secretary General of Nato or PM in Denmark - Anders Fogh Rasmussen was at the party's annual congress to support the troops of The Liberal Party of Denmark (V) - as well as the troops in Afghanistan.

’I think it was right of Lars [Løkke Rasmussen, chairmand of The Liberals and de facto PM] to set up concrete goals to head for. Not because it is important to be in the top-this-or-that, but because it provides a drive to set up a goal that you want to work towards,’ Anders Fogh Rasmussen said about the top ten goals for 2020 set up by Lars Løkke Rasmussen in his opening speech.

As far as goals for the current situation in Afghanistan, he said:
'We will pull out of Afghanistan once the people of Afghanistan are ready to take over the responsibility for the security in the country. We will help them to achieve that by educating the Afghan soldiers and police. But it is impossible to set a fixed date for that.'

Top Ten of Top Tens

Denmark will be among the top ten countries in practically any field by 2020. Just so you know. This according to the plan for the next decade put forward by de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen at the Liberal National Congress this weekend. By 2020, this is what other nations should expect from Denmark:

1. Among the ten richest countries in the world measured by GDP/Gross Domestic Product per inhabitant (in 2008 we were no. 11 among OECD countries).
2. Among the three best countries in the world in the field of entrepreneurship (in 2006 we were no. 12 among OECD countries).
3. Among the ten highest ranking countries in the world in the field of work force (in 2008 we were no. 14).
4. Among the five highest ranking countries in the world when it comes to educational skills of school children - in reading, mathematics, and natural sciences (in the 2006 PISA-list we were at the OECD average, and in 2002/03 no. 4 of eight European countries).
5. At least have one in the top ten ranking universities in Europe according to the Times Higher Education ranking (in 2009 we were no. 15 in Europe, and no. 51 in the world, University of Copenhagen).
6. Among the top ten when it comes to the human average life span (in 2007 we were no. 26 of 26 OECD countries).
7. Among the top three countries in the world in the field of energy efficiency and the top ten countries with highest amount of renewable energy (in 2006 we were no. 4 among OECD countries).
8. Among the best EU countries to integrate non-western immigrants, measured by the employment rate (in 2001 we had a an immigrant employment rate of 45 percent and in 57 percent).
9. Among the lowest criminal rates in Europe (in 2005 we were the country with the fifth highest probability of a citizen being subjected to criminal offence of 18 EU countries).
10. Among the five strongest economies in the world (in 2009 we are no. 4 in 25 OECD countries).

Now, maybe it's just the nature of Paradoxical News. But this publication wonders if the above top ten list is not an easy sell - for the next government to fulfill? A bit like boxing air bubbles and storing them for the next generation?

Not on the list, but suggested to be included on the list by a Liberal party member at the congress, were the soft values. Like being among the happiest people in the world. But, hey, they say we already are! At least, very happy with ourselves.

Value Revival - or Value Reversal?

Chairman of The Liberal Party of Denmark (V) and de facto PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen presented his top ten list towards 2020 at the opening of the Liberal National congress. As a prelude he rhetorically gathered his troops:
’I would like to present to you the Liberal project for the next decade. I come to you with an open mind and ask: Shouldn't we jointly set up and achieve these goals?’

And then joined his troops around the so-called Danish Dream - which he saw as both a parallel and a contrast to the American Dream:

’The Danish Dream is a dream about wealth and fairness. A dream about setting high goals and achieving them – in collaboration with others. So that others will enjoy our success with us. And so that no one is left behind, but on the contrary will celebrate with the ones that do well,’ the PM said.

It was exactly this dream about fairness that researcher in political history Lars Hovbakke Sørensen, external associate professor at the University of Aarhus, saw as a revival of the political focus at the centre of Danish politics:
’It can be seen as a signal to be centre-focussed on the economic distribution of wealth on one hand to favour the Social Democrat side of the Danish electorate. And on the other hand to move towards the right on the values in order to favour the Conservative side of the Danish electorate,' Lars Hovbakke Sørensen explains.

As Lars Løkke Rasmussen himself put it during the national congress:

’We live in times where the people of '68 have settled with authorities – unfortunately also with the healthy authorities. We are now paying the price for that. And we must correct this!’

The Liberal Freedom Award 2009 was given to a local soccer club for its local social responsibility efforts to integrate local immigrants and juvenile delinquents through positive activities. This political historian Lars Hovbakke Sørensen saw as a way of signalling a Right wing value revival:
’It is a clear symbol of the political value line. They gave the price to the soccer club, because they want to signal, that the political value line reflects the concrete political initiatives. It is a clear signal that the value line - until now absent from the first period under Lars Løkke - will now revert.’

Political historian Hovbakke Sørensen furthermore puts this into a historic context:
’We saw the same thing happening during the Schlüter-government, when it didn't follow a strict value line. Then we saw the Fremskridtspartiet [which later split and reconstituted as The Danish People's Party (O)]. And furthermore during the 1960’ies under VKR coalition [Liberals, Conservatives, and Social-Liberals], where the political line wasn't Conservative enough, because the Social-Liberals joined the coalition. So the value line is important if they want to win the next election,’ Hovbakke Sørensen extends his argument - referring to a period where the abortion rules were liberated and the free pornography was introduced in Denmark.

It must be said that Lars Hovbakke Sørensen is known for a debate line to support Conservative and People's Party concepts. So Paradoxical News was paradoxed by the absense of other commentators to say the same thing. PN wasn't entirely convinced, and so asked another expert:

And Jens Hoff, Professor in political communication from the University of Copenhagen, doesn't find the same tendency in Lars Løkke Rasmussen's speech - nor in his political line.
'I don't think that Lars Løkke is a great value strategist - he is more of a pragmatic hands-on bureaucrat. I think that his speech and his ten goals witnessed a new line to reverse the former stringent value line under Anders Fogh Rasmussen. There are practically no value signals in these very concrete goals. And he opens up towards a broader collaboration accross the board,' Jens Hoff analyses the Liberal line put forward at the national congress.

Whether value revival or value reversal - Lars Løkke Rasmussen did come out of his bureaucratic political shop with his (I have a) Danish Dream speech. A bit more statesman-like. With bits and pieces for the local crowds and his Liberal troops in the back country.

Spoofed by Municipal Trade-Offs

He may look like a young elementary school teacher spoofed by a practical joke by his pupils. But Social Democrat Frank Jensen (A) is in fact 48 years old and as of this week's paradoxical municipal elections the de facto lord mayor of the city of Copenhagen. So maybe the difference is not that big. Of course the City Hall is not a school, but maybe more of a political shop where anything can be traded.

You see, in Copenhagen we have the luxury of not only one Mayor - but seven of them. No, one is never enough in Copenhagen. That goes for beer as it goes for mayors. One for each of the ares: Economy, Culture & Leisure, Children & Youth, Health & Caretaking, Social Areas, Technique & Environment, and for Employment & Integration. Each mayor with his/her own little kingdom. So apart from the fact that the Social Democrats through votes usually occupy several of the mayor positions - you often find a situation in Copenhagen local government where you'll find seven different parties with their own kingdoms. A bit like Italy before the unification. So co-operation across areas is a challenge - to say the least. Perhaps this is why Frank Jensen is spoofed?

PN was there to cover the municipal elections at Copenhagen City Hall. And early learned that The Danish People's Party (O) was heading for a position as Mayor of Employment & Integration. Which is not exactly the cup of tea for neither the Social Democrats (A) nor the Social-Liberals (B). But in the municipal trade-offs anything can be negotiated. This way, during the constitution negotiations the night after the local elections, Klaus Bondam from the Social-Liberals had to eat his own words of keeping The Danish People's Party out of reach of influence, and traded a position as Mayor of Technique & Environment for chairman posts to the people's party in four different committees. This not only spoofed Frank Jensen as much as it spoofed Klaus Bondam's own Social-Liberal party members, members of the press - and most of the population.

Open Access to Closed Documents

This week the Danish Ombudsmand Hans Gammeltoft-Hansen, Professor dr.jur., presented a report by the Commission on Public Affairs and Public Administration during a conference at the Danish parliament of Christiansborg for public administrators and media people alike. The commission's work was to ensure public insight into the working process of the administration. For democratic reasons.

Many paragraphs had been altered to stress the fact that the public has a right to this insight. And to stress that also some private companies performing public services should now be subjected to this public scrutiny, according to the commission's suggestions. If the law is passed after public hearing and negotiations at the next parliamentary session next fall, of course. It all sounded marvellous.

Until some of the fine print became clear: In chapter four, §§ 19 to 27 about the exceptions. In the future, it is suggested by the commission, the public and members of the press will not have a right to insight into the internal ministerial communication, documents, and calendars about the law preparational process. Which are included in the public scrutiny rights as it is now.

A paradoxical improvement that stresses the rights so much more - alongside closing the same rights. Giving open access to closed documents, as it were. Wethepeople - and the fourth power of state - will be looking forward to the hearings this winter and spring - and to the parliamentary negotiations next fall. For democratic reasons.

Books With Hooks - Part Three

Books With Hooks - Part Two

Books With Hooks - Part One

How do you plant a hook in your reader? Swedish author Per Olov Engquist gave his view on the subject, during his visit to the book fair at the Forum in Copenhagen 13th-15th November, where he gave an interview to journalist Jes Stein Pedersen from the DR2 Deadline editorial staff.

P.O. Engquist is popular in Denmark. He lived in Copenhagen for 14 years and was married to a Danish actress, theater director and cultural editor. He has written about Denmark and Danish historical figures many times - among them the fairy tale master Hans Christian Andersen - and worked as a journalist and a playwright. During this visit he talked about his most recent book, his autobiography Et andet Liv (A Different Life from 2008). About the pitfalls of writing about your own life, about different modes of narration from all knowing to the 'I narrator'.

The same did Danish author and a long standing member of the Danish Academy, Klaus Rifbjerg, whose literary production excedes all boundaries - from novels, to essays, to poems, to commentaries. Write it out in full - or burn it! his advice sounded. Rifbjerg read humoristic bits and pieces from his latest novel Dagstelegrafen (Daily Telegraph). About a mainstream cultural middle class family from the suburbs of Copenhagen and their haps and mishaps. Critics have called it twaddling. A bit like sitting next to an old aunt at a family dinner. In that case, at least she still had her wits and a sense of humour. With or without a hook.

In a quite different end of the book fair scale, there were presentations of books on political issues. Like the one presented by Niels Barfoed and Jan Bo Hansen, both journalists writing for the elitist Danish newspaper of Weekendavisen about the Cold War era (Tómis-A/Barfoed) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (Muren/The Wall, Hansen), and moderated by DR2 Deadline host Kurt Strand. The hooks in these books were espionage and counter-espionage. A sure thing to keep your audience fixed.

Meta-Comment No. 13

Friday 13th. Spooky, right? Wrong! When the spooks fall with a delay of a couple of weeks, it just doesn't work.

Musical Muscles with Delayed Spooks

Friday 13th The Royal Danish Academy of Music held a concert at their present stage, the former DR/Danish Broadcasting Corporation concert hall. By chance I got a ticket to the sold out concert. I can't think when I last visited this concert hall, so this was an experience in itself.

The acoustics were amazing and the musical skills of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra were indisputable. The concert included a dark programme: Saint-Saëns: Danse Macabre, Liszt: Totentanz, and Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique. Sinister? Dark? You betcha!

French conductor and pianist (1835-1921) Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre is set at All Saints' Eve/Halloween - where the souls come out from their graves and have a bit of fun. The Macabre Dance. If you've seen your generation's version in Michael Jackson's Thriller video, you're up to speed. In Danse Macabre, however, it is not the funky beat, but the solo violinist on the E-string that kick starts the dance - in the so-called Dies Irae (Day of Wrath/Day of Judgement) motif. Now, much like Michael Jackson, Saint-Saëns wasn't just any mainstream musician. He had his dark sides. He was somewhat of a pessimist, made concerts for solar eclipses, was occupied by the occult - and was seen as a forerunner for the later Existentialist movement in the 20th Century.

Solo pianist Olga Kern (Russian born with family ties to both Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff) then made her entrance in her spectacular red silk gala robe. To perform Totentanz (Dance of the Dead) by Hungarian composer Franz Liszt (Ferencz Liszt, 1811-1886, a collegue and friend of both Saint-Saëns' and Berlioz'). Kern's handling of the grand piano was as spectacular as was her dress. I've seldomly seen a pianist boxing away at the piano as she did during this performance. With professionalism and skill. With energy and virtuosity. And with a couple of encores for little show pieces.

After an intermission, then a close friend of Saint-Saëns', French composer Hector Berlioz (1802-1869) finished off the ball. Being a Romantic character, occupied with sadness, death, and unattainable love, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique is said to have been inspired by his muse, Irish actress Harriet Smithson in order to impress her. In five movements, Daydreams, A Ball, Scene in the Country, March to the Scaffold, and Dream of a witches' Sabbath his torments are played out.

Although the real story begins with his muse refusing Berlioz' passionate courting, the story ends in merriment: His love was actually returned and he was later married to Harriet Smithson, they got a child and lived happily ever after. His music had been recognized and played all along, but as a true, passionate Romatic absorbed with the notion of refusal, his famous last words is said to have been: 'Enfin, on va jouer ma musique' ('So finally, they will play my music').

So finally, Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique was performed. With all of the orchestral maneuvres (in the dark) in play. From the violins and violas/tenor-violins, the cellos, the English horns, the harpes, the oboes, the tubas, the trumpets, the cymbals, the kettle drums - and gongs! And although these five movements were all spectacular, well-performed, and impressive from a musical point of view - perhaps the concert as a whole would have made a hugher impression and been more convincing if it had all played out on the designated night of Halloween. Not with several weeks of delay. So paradoxically, an otherwise professional concert appeared somewhat misunderstood as it played out with plenty of musical muscles - but with delayed spooks.

Twitter or Green Revolution in Iran?

'Any questions?', the panel asked the audience at tonight's viewing of two documentaries on the Iranian internet revolution under the joint title of The Revolution Will Be Twittered at the CPH:DOX documentary festival, followed by a seminar on the current situation and the outlook in Iran. And the questions were many.

'Will Twitter and the Internet have an actual impact on regime change in Iran?', 'There are reports of the regime blocking and filtering the internet, so how?', 'Are you supporting Mousavi and the Green Movement, since wearing a green scarf?' - and many more. All following the Iranian unrest this summer. The answers were moderate in their hope. Because the Iranian government slows down the internet speed to stop internal unrest voiced through blogs, mails, Twitters, etc. And there were even reports of repeat tweets - i.e. false Twitter messages supposed to voice support from Iranian to Iranian, but were actually repeated and copied tweets around the world, instead of documenting internal support.

Paradoxical News spoke with a female Iranian student visiting Denmark, who had to leave the film session and panel debate, because everywhere she went, every westerner would ask her questions about the current situation in Iran. Paradoxically, she was simply fed up with the questions. More so than the current situation.

The panel was moderated by Pernille Bramming, a Middle East and Iranian reporter for the Danish elitist newspaper of Weekendavisen. First debater was Iranian Omid Habibinia, a journalist and media researcher, formerly an employee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, now based in Switzerland, who believes in changing the Iranian regime altogether - not just through reforms. He didn't believe in the so-called Green Movement and the green scarfs of Iranian Islamic reformists - but would like to see the Iranian flag in its full original tricolour style of red, white, green. Of which the green represents Islamic faith.

'I don't like the green element. It's a representation of Islam, and I don't like Islam. And I don't think that Mousavi can do anything within the regime, people are ready for a revolution,' Habibinia said. A supporter of the peaceful religious group of the Baháis in Iran (see Persecution of Bahá'ís).

Second debater was Arash Kamangir, an Iranian engineer now based in Toronto, Canada (his first name Arash is also a heroic archer-figure of Iranian folklore tradition). He flashed his green scarf to show his support to reforms in Iran, supporting the whole Green Revolution or Green Movement package of not only Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh. Known as Mousavi, a reformist politician and last Prime Minister of Iran from 1981 to 1989, who started the Green Movement, the supporters of which wear the Islamic green scarfs, (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Movement and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Green_Path_of_Hope). But also Seyed Mohammad Khatami (moderate Iranian president 1997-2005, who advocated for freedom of speech, and a political protegé and friend of Mousavi's) - and even Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (Iranian pragmatic conservative president 1989-1997) could have been a part of it according to Arash Kamangir.

'Let's just not have another Khomeini,' as Kamangir moderately put it, referring to the Iranian Revolution of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1979 that overthrew the shah in Iran and turned the country into an Islamic Republic. Green - but not that green - the paradoxical lesson seems to be.

Master of Ice, Metal, Glass, Light, and Water

Ice. Metal. Glass. Light. Water. These constitute the five elements that personify the genius of Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Last night at the CPH:DOX film festival in the court yard of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen I had a chance to see the documentary Seeing Space by Jacob Jørgensen and Henrik Lundø about Eliasson's work, process, and inspirations.

The documentary took the viewers through Eliasson's works and exhibitions in the 21st Century, in particular through his work process constructing the waterfalls along East River of New York from 2006-08, which caused many frustrations and pit stops along the way. The film also took us behind the scenes in his preparations, inspirations, media contacts, collaborations, his Icelandic background, and partly his family life. The documentary can be experienced again in Stærekassen, the intimate scene of The Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen this Saturday.

The film took the viewers to Iceland to the preparational photo works at the glaciers. Olafur Eliasson's Icelandic background has contributed to his fascination with ice and water - which can be seen in his many works, installations, and architectural contributions. In particular, his often used themes of ice, metal, splintered glass, light, and water flows. For instance his spectral light waves in water installations. Or his BMW H2R project, from the 2007 MOMA exhibition in New York, with a BMW chassis captured in a metal cage, lit from the inside, but frozen in a layer of ice - that can be seen at the museum modern art, Louisiana's current The World is Yours exhibition.

For further information, please see:
http://www.olafureliasson.net/
http://www.sfmoma.org/exhibitions/

World Perspectives

This weekend I went to the north of Copenhagen to see the current exhibitions of The World is Yours and Tro, Håb og Kærlighed (Faith, Hope, And Love) at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. The first an international arts and installations exhibition. The second a 40th jubilee exhibition by American Pictures photographer Jacob Holdt.

In The World is Yours many works compete for attention, one of which is Olafur Eliassons BMW H2R project of a BMW chassis encaged in metal and frozen in a room below 10 degrees celsius. The car of the future. Another mind boggler is this simple written statement without a title, black on white on the wall, by Norwegian artist Garder Eide Einarsson:

1) Those who agree with you are insane
2) Those who do not agree with you are in power

1) Some of those in power are insane
2) And they are right

Another installation that focused on interactivity with the viewers/audience was Frequency & Volume, created by Mexican-born, Canada-based artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. The work is composed of 48 radios, which can all be tuned to different channels simultaneously. The wall becomes a visual and sonic representation, constantly changing according to the physical position of its visitors. The participants’ shadows are cast on the wall. Monitored by a video tracking system, each shadow tunes in to a radio frequency, changing channels as it moves around the gallery. The World is Yours is on until 10th January 2010.

In Jacob Holdt's Tro, Håb og Kærlighed exhibition his photos of everyday life Americans are viewed in themes like working life, poverty, rich people, religion, etc. Pictures without filters on the reality they display, from beggars in the streets to nude play boys on 'dates'. From gangster shootings to Ku Klux Klan events. Holdt has spent an entire life time documenting American lives in his American Pictures book, and this exhibition marks his 40th jubilee. The exhibition is on until 7th February 2010.

For further information, please see:
http://www.louisiana.dk/dk
http://www.american-pictures.com/

CPH:DOX Kick-Off

Friday night I was at the official opening night of the CPH:DOX documentary film festival in Copenhagen, comprising app. 200 shorts and documentary films over ten days, from 6th to 15th November 2009. The opening was presented by DR2 host Clement Kjersgaard and CPH:DOX Festival Director Tine Fischer among others. And included a gala performance and a world premiere showing of Danish director Max Kestner's documentary Dreams in Copenhagen - accompanied by live orchestral music by the youth ensemble in the sold out DR/Danish Broadcasting Corporation's concert hall.

The documentary focuses on the architectural diversities of the city of Copenhagen - and the people who inhabit and build the city, specifically the thoughts and ideas formed by architects. In a mellow and philosophical tone. And although many wonderful things could probably be said about this film, it was somewhat awkward to view the film with limited view from the side orchestral seats. In short, they are not suited for showing films. And it damaged the perception.

So what do you do, when views are bad? You focus your attention on the sound instead. And I'm glad I did. Because the live ensemble playing music by Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson was nothing short of amazing. It accompanied the visual side beautifully and with intense sensitivity to the themes of the documentary. This music could stand alone. So paradoxically, I heard a very good film on Friday night. Producer Henrik Veileborg of Upfront Films promised a separate CD version of the score, as well as of the documentary.

For further information, please see:
http://www.dr.dk/Koncerthuset/Kalender/2009_-_november/20091015130510
http://www.cphdox.dk/d/a1.lasso
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jóhann_Jóhannsson
http://www.johannjohannsson.com/

Evolution of Dance

Have a Break: I'm sorry to interrupt the relative seriousness of the Paradoxical News flow with this hint that is always good to repeat: Go to You Tube and watch the Evolution of Dance for a good, solid six minute laugh, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg, if you haven't lately. All well said with music - no words.

Surveyed Surveillance

Other people's lives. That's what it's all about. Surveillance is a measure used to look into other people's lives for the off chance that they might do something wrong. This summer the PET commission issued a report of individuals in Denmark put under surveillance from 1945-89 by the Danish Security and Intelligence Service in Denmark/PET. A full 16 volumes that took a decade to complete. Much debated over the summer, because people found themselves mentioned in the volumes.

Then last night, I attended a public meeting by members of a judicial policy association, presented by a panel consisting of former PET Director General Ole Stig Andersen, Professor, dr.jur. Ole Espersen, lawyer with a licence to represent in the Supreme Court in Denmark, Bjørn Elmquist, and politician Per Clausen from The Red-Green Alliance (Ø) - several of these having been scrutinized over a period.

The debate was about PET's legal grounds and reasons to set up surveillance. Some had been scrutinized without just cause for their legal political activities. And although even the former PET Director General of Ole Stig Andersen naturally couldn't reveal any methods, he had been criticising the current set up of PET. In his days, 1975-84, he explained, 'we were 35-40 employees and registered people on a card drum'. The PET of today has anvanced considerably since then, with about 650 employees and an agenda to work in the fields of counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, and counter-extremism.

The PET commission's report was originally designated to also cover reports from the scrutinized individuals themselves. But this was abandoned. So the above panel of the judicial policy association had taken the initiative to gather reports from these individuals and will issue their own report later this year - more precisely it is to be expected published on 24th November this year.

Finally! A report to survey the surveillance over the surveillance. Someone to watch over the ones that watch over the other people who watch...Hold on, am I getting this right? A very contra surveillance like paradox.

For further information, please see:
http://www.petkommissionen.dk/

http://www.petkommissionen.dk/fileadmin/bind/pet_bind16.pdf
http://www.retspolitik.dk/