Because SKAM wasn't “just” a TV series - it was contemporary history, communicated in the language of youth. It was a kind of snapshot of what it means to be young in Norway today and a “cultural movement” that extended far beyond classrooms and communities. The series was analyzed in newspapers, discussed in cafés and on social media, and most importantly: felt deeply in the hearts of young people all over the world. But it wasn't just young people who paid attention. On the contrary! Many adults also got carried away. SKAM thus united generations and provided insight into a youth life that many had previously only seen from the outside - or that some might have missed a little.
It wasn't just the format of the series that was new - with clips posted in real time and characters with their own Instagram profiles. It was the content, the honesty and the deep respect for the lives and struggles of young people that probably made the series so powerful. SKAM showed that contemporary culture can be just as important (and beautiful) as contemporary art - when made with love and a genuine desire to understand.