International media express surprise as Sweden's cultural canon omits iconic pop group Abba, despite including Ikea. The list, limited to works over 50 years old, has sparked debate, with critics noting the exclusion of contemporary experiences and Islamic landmarks.
Global Reaction to Sweden's Cultural Canon Excluding Abba
Global Reaction to Sweden's Cultural Canon Excluding Abba
Ikea, but not Abba or meatballs?
Sweden's most famous pop group is absent from the list of Swedish cultural heritage, as astonished writers in both the New York Times and Der Spiegel report.
The newspapers understand the rules: only works older than 50 years can be included in the cultural canon. However, Der Spiegel quotes the lyrics: “The winner takes it all/the loser's standing small” and writes that the Swedish pop band now gets to “experience these bitter lines from their 1980 hit up close.”
The New York Times adds that the band declined an interview.
Otherwise, both the aforementioned newspapers and The Guardian report that the project has been primarily driven by the Sweden Democrats, while Ritzau states that it is a result of the Tidö Agreement.
The Guardian quotes social anthropologist Marlen Eskander, who left the committee last year, claiming in Svenska Dagbladet that contemporary experiences reflecting how the country has changed were deliberately excluded. The Guardian also notes that no Islamic landmarks are included, despite the country's Muslim population.
Examples from the list include Pippi Longstocking, Ingmar Bergman, Selma Lagerlöf, Ikea, parental leave, and the Nobel Prize.