The committee, known as A Cultural Canon for Sweden, has now decided which areas will be included in Sweden's cultural canon – the arts of literature, visual arts and design, music, film, and performing arts, as well as learning and non-fiction.
In the category of society, the areas of religion, law and justice, economy, inventions, and public sphere will be included.
They have also selected the experts who will determine which works will be included in the canon. For each of the categories of arts and society, an expert group will be attached.
"Wrong prioritization"
"Now the committee is taking an important step forward in the process, and I look forward to eventually seeing the results of the expert groups," says Lars Trägårdh, chairman of the committee, in a press release.
Author Anders Rydell, on the other hand, is critical of the entire project.
The experts are many very good people who will do a good job, but I think a cultural canon is the wrong prioritization. You're putting a lot of resources into this work at the same time as cultural life is having a very hard time, he says.
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If the government wants to achieve something with a cultural canon, it must be followed by major investments in the cultural sector, according to Rydell.
Otherwise, it will be completely meaningless. Then it will just be a list of culture that everyone already knows is important – but what are we going to do with it?
They will be experts
In the expert group for society are Hans-Gunnar Axberger, professor of constitutional law, Katarina Barrling, associate professor of political science, Daniel Waldenström, professor of economics, Henrik Berggren, author and historian, Bengt Kristensson Uggla, professor at the Åbo Academy of Commerce, and Inga-Britt Ahlenius, civil servant.
For the arts, the following will be included: ideologist Svante Nordin, professor of literature Torsten Pettersson, Mattias Lundberg, professor of musicology, Karin Sidén, associate professor of art history and museum director at Waldemarsudde, Björn Linnell, author and publisher, and Karin Helander, professor of theatre studies.
The development of a canon has been marked by controversy and criticism, where one member resigned from the committee in protest. Later, another member left the assignment.
Correction: In an earlier version, Karin Sidén had the wrong title.
Facts: Swedish Cultural Canon
A Swedish cultural canon is the decision of the Tidö parties.
The committee, appointed by the government, began its work on March 1, 2024, and is expected to report its assignment no later than August 31, 2025.
In addition to historian Lars Trägårdh, journalist Gunilla Kindstrand and publicist PJ Anders Linder are members.
Discussion
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