Living in an Absolut World

When thinking about Vodka, many different names come to mind: Grey Goose, Smirnoff, Burnettes (only if you are in college). When thinking about Vodka from Sweden, one name comes to mind: Absolut.

Absolut Vodka is more than an alcoholic beverage. It is a world brand, a culture and a lifestyle. Certain types of people drink Absolut Vodka, and they feel a certain way while doing so (apart from the feeling of intoxication). Although it is perceived that Absolut was an overnight success, it was actually 400 years in the making.

Absolut Vodka owes the credit for what it is today to Lars Olsson Smith, also known as “The King of Vodka.” In the late 1800s, Smith revolutionized the vodka industry by introducing a new method of purifying vodka called continuous distillation. The new vodka was named Absolut rent Branvin (Absolutely Pure Vodka). The brand name “Absolut” was registered in 1879 (Story of Absolut).

Absolut Vodka was enjoyed and refined for the next 100 years until it was ready to be exported to the United States in 1979. The simplistic design for the bottle was designed by Swedish designers Gunnar Broman and Hans Brindfors and derived from an 18^th century pharmacy bottle found in an antic shop in Stockholm (The Story).

Absolut Vodka was incredibly successful in the United States, and in many other countries around the world. By 1985, Absolut was the number one imported vodka in the U.S. That same year Andy Warhol designed a print of the Absolut bottle, throwing the company into the American pop culture (Story of Absolut).

In more recent years, Absolut Vodka’s extensive advertising campaigns and corporate branding have made the company one of the most recognized Swedish corporations.

One of Absolut Vodka’s most interesting campaigns is: In An Absolut World There Are No Lables. This campaign is designed to challenge labels and prejudice about sexuality. Absolut launched a naked bottle with no label and no logo, to emphasize the idea that no matter what is on the outside, it’s on the inside that truly matters (In An Absolut World There Are No Labels).

Bibliography

In An Absolut World There Are No Labels. (n.d.). Retrieved from Absolut Vodka: http://www.absolut.com/nolabel

Story of Absolut. (n.d.). Retrieved from Absolut Vodka: http://www.absolut.com/us/about/story

The Story. (n.d.). Retrieved from Absolut Ad: http://absolutad.com/absolut_about/history/story/

Cinema In Sweden: An Insight into Ingmar Bergman

Cinema in Sweden has an extensive and interesting history. Although there have been numerous successful Swedish filmmakers, including Lukas Moodysson, Josef Fares and Maria Blom, the main focus of Swedish filmmaking belongs to Ingmar Bergman (Swedish Film).

Ingmar Bergman is arguably to most famous and honored filmmaker from Sweden. Born in 1918, he directed his debut film in 1945. His early works were mostly adaptations of existing dramas although he also produced original works. Bergman’s true career began in 1948 with the production of Fangelse, The Devil’s Wanton, in which he directed his own script (Biography).

The 1950 film Sommarlek, Summer Interlude, put Bergman on the map as a respectable director. Following a few other films, Bergman created his first period piece Gycklarnas Afton, The Naked Night, which he drew from his influences of 1930s French films and German cinema (Biography).

In 1955, Bergman began one of his most famous films Det Sjunde Inseglet, The Seventh Seal. This film, which brought Bergman international praise and fame, marked the turning point from a common romantic theme to the exploration of the relationships between man, God and death. Most known for the scene where a knight opposes death as a game of chess, this film won the Special Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Bergman continued the theme surrounding death in his 1957 film Smultronstallet, Wild Strawberries (Biography).

Bergman won his first Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film for the 1960 film Jungfrukallan, The Virgin Spring. The film Sasom I en Spegel, Through a Glass Darkly, marked Bergman’s entry into his “chamber” style of photography which utilized up-close shots to dramaticize the actors’ facial emotions, a method which was practiced in many of his following films (Biography).

The crowning masterpiece is arguably Persona, which was completed in 1966 following a period of intense meditation and examination. In 1969 Bergman completed his first color film En Passion, The Passion of Anna, and 1970 he released his first English-language film, The Touch (Biography).

Bergman ventured into television in 1973 with the production of the acclaimed series Scenes from a Marriage. The small screen remained Bergman’s medium of choice and after a completing a number of productions released the Oscar- winning Fanny och Alexander, Fanny and Alexander. Bergman returned to television for good in 1984 with the premier of Efter Repetitionen, After the Rehearsal (Biography).

Bergman announced his retirement in 1995, but returned to the industry in 1996 to shoot the television drama Larmar Och Gor Sig Till (Biography).

Bibliography

Biography. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2010, from Ingmar Bergman: http://www.ingmarbergman.com

Swedish Film. (n.d.). Retrieved April 8, 2010, from Sweden: http://www.sweden.se

Background of Sweden

Current Facts:

History:

The history of Sweden is incredibly extensive, so here are some of the most intriguing facts.

The area of Sweden was inhabited between 8000 and 6000 BC by people who survived through hunting and fishing and the use of simple tools. The Stone age lasted until 1800 BC and was followed by The Bronze age, which occurred from 1800 to 500 BC.

Around 1000 all of the independent entities were absorbed into a single kingdom which centered in Vastergotland and Ostergotland. Sweden remains a monarchy to this day, although the role of the royal family has dramatically changed over the years.

Sweden's Monarchs since 1523:

House of Vasa

Gustav Vasa (regent 1521) 1523-1560
Erik XIV 1560-1568
Johan III 1568-1592
Sigismund 1592-1599
Karl IX (regent 1599) 1604-1611
Gustav II Adolf 1611-1632
Kristina (regency 1632-44) 1644-1654

House of the Palatinate:

Karl X Gustav 1654-1660
Karl XI (regency 1660-72) 1672-1697
Karl XII 1697-1718
Ulrika Eleonora 1719-1720

House of Hesse:

Fredrik I 1720-1751

House of Holstein-Gottorp:

Adolf Fredrik 1751-1771
Gustav III 1771-1792
Gustav IV Adolf (regency 1792-96) 1796-1809
Karl XIII 1809-1818

House of Bernadotte:

Karl XIV Johan 1818-1844
Oscar I 1844-1859
Karl XV 1859-1872
Oscar II 1872-1907
Gustaf V 1907-1950
Gustaf VI Adolf 1950-1973
Carl XVI Gustaf 1973

Currently, Sweden in a member of the European Union (EU). It 2001 Sweden took over presidency of the EU, which enabled the country to have a more proactive voice in Europe.

Culture:

The seasons greatly affect the Swedes' as the winter is long and cold, but the summer is brilliant. The Swedes are known for their skiing ability, especially for cross-country skiing. They are avid athletes and enjoy the great outdoors at every chance available. In the winter they spend their time skiing, snow-shoeing and sipping Glug by a nice warm fire.

In the summer they take advantage of the warm weather by hiking, swimming and sailing.

Sweden is also home to some of the world's best-known corporations: H&M, Volvo, IKEA, Absolut Vodka and SAAB, just to name a few.

Sweden has a very "green" culture. As a member of the UN Commission of Sustainable Development, Sweden leads by example. In Fact, one third of all energy consumed in Sweden comes from renewable resources and 96% of household waste is recycled.

Media:

The Press:

Aftonbladet- Stockholm-based daily

Dagens Nyheter- Stockholm- based daily

Expressen- Stockholm- based daily

Svenska Dagbladet- Stockholm- based daily

Goteborgs Posten- Gothenburg-based daily

English-based Press:

The Local- Online News

The Scandinavian Insider- Business and Lifestyle

Radio:

Sveriges Radio- public

Radio Sweden International- external

Rix FM- commercial, national pop music

NRJ- commercial, national pop music

Mix Megapol- commercial, national music

News Agency-

TT- owned by several media groups

Television:

Television officially launched on September 4, 1956 by Svergie Radio (named Radiotjanst Television at the time)

The second TV channel was launched in 1960s.

Sources:

http://www.sweden.se

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1021823.stm

The Beginning

I decided to create this blog for a number of reasons:

1. I wake up earlier than my friends on Saturdays and need something to do.

2. I have to create a blog for my International Communication class.

3. I am going to Bangkok, Thailand for a year to teach at Assumption University and want away to relay information to my family and friends back home.

Since I am going to spend a year in Thailand, why not learn about about another country? So stay in tune for some insightful information about the Kingdom of Sweden... should be riveting.

Something I bet you didn't know.. Sweden was the first country in Europe to establish a national park.