Visit Oslo's ironic ad campaign touts the city's 'flaws' as virtues

Visit Oslo has released a humorous promotional video directed by August Jorfald, in which a 31-year-old Oslo native named Halfdan playfully lists reasons not to visit the Norwegian capital. He describes the city as too accessible—swimming in the city center, running into the Prime Minister or King on the street, crossing Oslo in a 30-minute walk, and finding immediate restaurant tables. He critiques its architecture by American designers and compares Edvard Munch's "The Scream" unfavorably to the Mona Lisa. The ad, inspired by a decade-old spot titled "Scandinavian Week" by Kristoffer Borgli, turns perceived drawbacks into selling points, positioning Oslo as a small, practical, and welcoming city. The campaign was covered by Artribune on July 2024.