PressTV... Over 100 intellectuals in Sweden have formed a new prize-awarding body to protest the sexual scandal that plagued the Swedish Academy, which awards the Nobel Literature Prize. The New Academy, whose members include authors, artists and journalist, announced that the alternative honor will serve to censure “bias, arrogance and sexism.”
The original academy was plunged into crisis over its long-running ties to a French individual accused of sexually assaulting several women.
It is intended to "remind people that literature and culture at large should promote democracy, transparency, empathy and respect, without privilege," a joint statement written by the 107 intellectuals said.
The development came after some members of the Swedish Academy resigned in April following revelations as part of the #MeToo campaign in November that several of its members – as well as their wives and daughters – had been allegedly assaulted by a prominent figure at the center of the scandal.
At the time, Sweden’s Dagens Nyheter newspaper published the testimony of 18 women, claiming to have been assaulted or raped by what it described as “one of the most influential figures in Stockholm’s cultural scene” without identifying him.
Resigning member Kjell Espmark told the Swedish daily that the institution had "given way to nepotism, attempts to cover up serious violations, stale macho values and arrogant bullying."
The revelations eventually led the academy to declare in May that there will be no Nobel Literature Prize this year, as differences over how to handle the scandal sowed deep discord among its 18 members and prompted six to step down — including the first woman permanent secretary Sara Danius.
However, the lack of a Nobel literature award for the first time in almost 70 years was unacceptable to some in the country’s literary community.
"Sweden is one of the world's most democratic, transparent and gender-equal countries... it needs a great literary prize," said Swedish journalist and one of the founders of the New Academy, Alexandra Pascalidou.
Unlike the original Swedish Academy, whose members were appointed for life -- before its patron, Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf, was forced to change the statutes, allowing members to resign or be replaced -- with meetings and decisions on prizes kept secret, the New Academy plans to make its prize-awarding process transparent.
"We want to create something which is open and inclusive, which allows people to contribute," said Pascalidou. A woman opens the door of the Alfred Nobel Museum in Stockholm, Sweden.
The new literature award — which carries a prize of one million kronor ($113,000) raised from crowd funding and donations — will be handed out at a December 10 ceremony, the same day as the Nobel banquet, according to the report.
Librarians across Sweden have been directed to nominate up to two authors, the report adds, with a deadline set for July 8. Authors with the most nominations will then receive votes online from the public in Sweden and abroad.
Based on the nominations and the vote results, a jury including publishers, literature professors, culture journalists and critics will narrow the list down to four authors — two men and two women — and make the final choice.
The winner, “who may come from anywhere in the world and must have published at least one literary work in the last 10 years,” will be declared on October 14, in the same month as the Nobel Literature Prize would have been announced.
Poster Comment:
Promoting democracy in its present form is a dubious attribute since too many ignoramuses get to pick a clown they find appealing or someone picked and promoted by a special interest group. Would be much better to follow the corporate model wherein knowledgeable shareholders get to choose from a qualified slate selected by qualified headhunters and administration.