Ikea guilty of 'cultural imperialism': Danes

Maverick · Mar 5, 2008

Now I know the truth why my Ikea doormate sounds so un-Swedish and must be replaced frequently, it is inferieur Danish goods -devil

Ikea guilty of 'cultural imperialism': Danes

A low-price furniture storm has been brewing on the other side the Öresund bridge over the past week with newspapers accusing Sweden's Ikea of trying to walk all over the Danes.

Popular daily Nyhedsavisen led the charge on Valentine's Day with a front page headline accusing Ikea of "bullying" Denmark.

Why is it, the paper wondered, that Swedish and Norwegian place names are always associated with the shiniest, comfiest furnishings in the Ikea catalogue, while the names of Danish towns are reserved for doormats, rugs and carpets?

"It seems to be an example of cultural imperialism," Klaus Kjøller, Assistant Professor in Political Communication and the Danish Language at the University of Copenhagen, told The Local.

"Ikea has chosen the objects with the lowest value and given them Danish names," he added.

Doormats and rugs such as Köge, Sindal, Roskilde, Bellinge, Strib, Helsingör and Nivå are all "seventh class" citizens in the hierarchical world of Ikea furnishings, according to Kjøller.

"Ikea is a very professional company. I don't think this can be a coincidence," he said.

But according to Ikea spokeswoman Ylva Magnusson, that is exactly what it is.

"It has never been our purpose to name carpets in a way that would be considered negative by anyone," she told The Local.

While expressing regret that anyone might have taken offence, Magnusson stressed that "it is just a coincidence that it happened to be carpets that were given Danish names."

But Klaus Kjøller is not convinced.

"It's hard to imagine it's not intentional," he said.

In an unrelated but interesting aside, the Copenhagen academic also pointed out that "it is exactly 350 years since the Swedes took the Halland, Skåne and Blekinge regions from Denmark."
Click to expand...

mr_evolution · Mar 6, 2008

Ikea must really hate these Danish.

Great Sage Equal of Heaven · Mar 6, 2008

hahah no body can pronounce the names anyways.. let alone know its origin..

robsh · Mar 6, 2008

seems the sweedes have a grudge on them or something

shw · Mar 6, 2008

i love danish. the swedes love it too

zero_c · Mar 6, 2008

Seems like the Danish are looking into this too much.

Akki · Mar 6, 2008

over analyzing the situation really...... so what if IKEA is? they can name it w/e, it's their product really... to an extent of course

khaotic · Mar 6, 2008

Cry more.

Honestly... Who the hell cares.

Ikea guilty of 'cultural imperialism': Danes

Maverick Lord Vader

mr_evolution ( • )( •ԅ(ˆ⌣ˆԅ)

Great Sage Equal of Heaven Original V I P

robsh Well-Known Member

shw Well-Known Member

zero_c Well-Known Member

Akki ...

khaotic Fobulous