The way in which Italians used to perceive our partner countries 25

years ago wasn’t very different from our perception nowadays. Among the books, magazines,

web sites, images, cartoons we found, we chose those we

considered more revealing. Here they are!

«It is easier to break an atom than a prejudice»

[ A. Einstein ]

Stereotypes in the past

If I tell you «FINLAND»…

… in the 80s

Apart from the most common stereotypes about Finland, like cold weather, Santa Claus or the sauna, the country was known

abroad for…

Elk, the king of Finnish forests

The first mobile phone in history was Finnish

All Finnish boys play hockey,like the famous

player Jari Kurri who won the Stanley Cup 5 times.

If I tell you «GERMANY»…

… in the 80s

We found some very amusing cartoons

made by famous Italian satirical cartoonists for the

Goethe Institut in Italy where they explore

through images the way in which Italians see German

people.

German regions

A typical kiss

A very beautiful woMAN……..

If I tell you «GREECE»…

… in the 80s

About Greece, referring to the saying “one face one race” we chose a scene of the film “Mediterraneo” by the Italian film director Gabriele Salvatores.What is the meaning of this saying?Greeks and Italians both live in the Mediterranean Basin and have a lot in common.

You can speak italian.I lived in Rhodes for 20 years.

Italian, Greek < Una faccia una razza> (one face one race). Ah ah ah…

If I tell you «POLAND»…

… in the 80s

Poland was often identified with the Polish

Pope John Paul II. Another stereotype was that everybody in Poland

worshipped the Black Virgin of Częstochowa.

The Black Virgin of Czestochowa.

Karol Józef Wojtyła,Polish Pope elected

in 1978. He is so important that his

image is even showed on a Polish stamp.

If I tell you «PORTUGAL»…

… in the 80s

On the web we found a video that summarizes all the typical

stereotypes about this country: monuments, the Atlantic Ocean

which has always been of paramount importance (think about

the explorers like the “Italian” Columbus) for its economy and

influence and footballers that made the history of football in Portugal.

THE END