[ad_1]
STOCKHOLM: What are you doing when this year's Nobel Prize for Literature, the most prestigious award in the world, is postponed because of an aggression scandal? sexual?
More than 100 Swedish intellectuals joined forces to form a new protest body after the Swedish Academy, which chose the Nobel laureates, was plunged into the crisis of its long-standing ties with a man accused of assaulting several women
The alternative honor serves to denounce "bias, arrogance and sexism", according to its founders The New Academy, whose members include writers, artists and performers. journalists.
It aims to "remind people that literature and culture the great intellectuals should promote democracy, transparency, empathy and respect, without privilege," say the 107 intellectuals in a joint statement. [19659004] As the #MeToo movement made waves at the global level, the Swedish Academy came to a boil When local media published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by a French cultural personality influential that has long been linked to the institution.
The revelations led the Academy to announce in May that there will be no Nobel Prize for Literature this year because disagreements on the scandal has sown discord among its 18 members and prompted six to resign – including Sara Danius' first permanent secretary
. "Sweden is one of the most democratic, most transparent and most equal countries in the world … it needs a great literary prize, "wrote the Swedish columnist and one of the founders . of the new award, Alexandra Pascalidou, told AFP.
& # 39; Open & inclusive & # 39; –
The members of the Swedish Academy were appointed for life before his protector, King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, was forced to change the statutes, making it possible for the members
Resigning member Kjell Espmark told the Dagens Nyheter newspaper that the institution had "given way to nepotism, attempts to conceal serious violations, outdated macho values and arrogant harassment".
High culture, the Swedish Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for its integrity and discretion, meetings and decisions on prices being kept secret.
But the New Academy is considering making its awarding process transparent. "We want to create something that is open and inclusive and allows people to contribute," said Pascalidou.
The new literary prize – which carries a prize of one million crowns (about 97,000 euros, $ 113,000) Funding and donations – will be awarded at a ceremony on December 10, the same day as the Nobel banquet.
Swedish librarians were invited to name up to two authors, with a deadline of 8 July. most nominations will then receive online votes from the public in Sweden and abroad.
On the basis of nominations and voting results, a jury of editors, teachers of literature, cultural journalists and critics will select four authors – two men and two women – and make the final choice [19659004] The winner, who can come from anywhere in the world and must have published at least one literary work in the last 10 years, will be announced on October 14, in the same month as the Nobel Prize winner. literature would have been announced.
Skepticism, Warnings –
But some observers are skeptical as to whether the New Academy can compare itself to the history of the Nobel Prize for Literature to recognize such eminent writers as Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Boris Pasternak and Alice Munro. and Doris Lessing, among others.
For Asa Linderborg, editor of the daily Aftonbladet's culture, he is "deeply provocative" of the New Academy to use literature to promote moral values and even "the most disturbing ideas". "The art must be free, it can not be labeled on the basis of righteousness or evil … The New Academy is after total purity … total kindness," Linderborg said at l & # 39; AFP.
who may not have a deep understanding of languages and books from different parts of the world, voting for an author may turn the price in favor of "predictable and translated into the West" literature.
"They are free to do what they want," AFP Per Wastberg, a member of the Swedish Academy
told AFP, the new literary prize, which has just been awarded. be qualified as an alternative to the Nobel. to join the Swedish Right Livelihood Award in the honor of those working for the improvement of the planet, and the Millennium Technology Prize of Finland.
Source link
