In protest against the scandal of the Nobel Prize, intellectuals seek an alternative

Stockholm:

What do you do when this year's Nobel Prize for Literature, the world's most prestigious award, is postponed because of a scandal of sexual assault?

You create your own reward. 19659004] More than 100 Swedish intellectuals joined forces to form a new protest body after the Swedish Academy, which selects the Nobel laureates, was plunged into the crisis of its long-standing ties with a man accused of assaulting several women. 19659004] Alternative honor serves to denounce "bias, arrogance and sexism," according to its founders The New Academy, whose members include writers, artists, and journalists.

It is intended to "remind people that literature and culture should promote democracy, transparency, empathy and respect, without privilege," wrote the 107 intellectuals in a joint statement

The #MeToo movement made waves on a global scale, the Swedish Academy fell into turmoil in November al media published the testimonies of 18 women claiming to have been raped, sexually assaulted or harassed by a woman. influential French cultural personality who has long been linked to the institution.

The revelations led the Academy to announce in May that there will be no Nobel Prize in In the literature this year, disagreements over how to deal with the scandal sparked discord among its 18 members and prompted six to resign, including Sara Danius' first permanent secretary

. "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 edition. award, Alexandra Pascalidou, to the AFP

"Open and Inclusive"

The members of the Swedish Academy were appointed for life before his protector, the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf, forced

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the Dagens Nyheter newspaper that the institution had "given way to nepotism, attempts to conceal serious violations, outdated macho values ​​and l & # 39; arrogance. "

Considered the holder of high culture, the Swedish Academy, founded in 1786, is traditionally known for its integrity and discretion, with meetings and decisions on prices being kept secret

. its award process is transparent.

"We want to create something that is open and inclusive and allows people to contribute," said Pascalidou

The New Literary Award – which carries a prize of one million crowns (about 97,000 euros, $ 113,000) from crowdfunding and donations – will be awarded at a ceremony on December 10, the same day as the Nobel Banquet.

Swedish librarians have been invited to nominate up to two authors The authors who have received the 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 publishers, teachers of literature, cultural journalists and critics will select four authors – two men and two women – and make the final choice

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, the same month that the Nobel Prize for 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 has rewarded such eminent writers as Ernest Hemingway, Albert Camus, Boris Pasternak, Alice Munro and Doris Lessing, among others.

For Asa Linderborg, editor of the daily Aftonbladet culture, "deeply provocative" of the New Academy to use literature to promote moral values ​​and even "the most disturbing ideas" can become a literature High quality.

"The art should be free.You can not label it according to righteousness or evil.The new academy is after total purity … total kindness," said Linderborg to AFP

She warned that allowing the public, who may not have a deep understanding of languages ​​and books from different parts of the world, to vote for the author may divert the price in favor of literature "predictable and translated into the West"

"Others are indifferent to the initiative."

"They are free to do what they want," says Per Wastberg

The New Literary Award is the latest award to have been called an alternative to the Nobel, joining the Swedish Award Livelihood honoring those working to improve the planet, and the Millennium Technology Prize Finland

(Except for the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)