Paper short abstract:

I shall discuss the elements of nostalgia connected with Finnish harbours in the 1950s. The nostalgic views emphasize the physically hard work and the “clear” gender roles. Harbour-nostalgia intertwines with a craving for exoticism and a critique of modern society’s alleged lack of communality.

Paper long abstract:

In my paper I shall discuss the elements of nostalgia connected with Finnish harbours of the 1950s. At the time Finland was relatively cut off from the rest of the Europe and most international traffic was conducted by sea. For working class people, working as a sailor was one of the few possibilities to travel abroad.

At the beginning of the decade was still a dearth of goods after the Second World War, but many commodities unavailable in the shops could be bought from sailors in the ports. In Finland, unlike in many other countries, ports were open to the public and were a popular environment for Sunday walks and exciting "playgrounds" for children.

In reminiscence the role of ports in the growing economy is emphasized. The foreign cultural influences and the harbour town's acclaimed tolerance are used to mark a difference between the town and the surrounding countryside or the inland towns. Connected to the ports, nostalgia intertwines with a craving for exoticism and constructs a counter-image of inward-looking and agrarian Finland.

The physically hard work — in the harbours and at home — is glorified and presented as an axiomatic basis of living. The present way of living and the working life of the younger generations are seen as too easy. Some nostalgic views are also a longing for the "clear" gender roles of the 1950s. The nostalgic reminiscences can also be interpreted as a strong critique of modern society's alleged lack of communality.