Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature
This article analyses aesthetical–political strategies for the promotion of class consciousness among workers in a few examples of contemporary Swedish working-class literature from different genres that describe and criticize precarious working conditions. Special attention is given to how these te...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Humanities |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/2/28 |
| _version_ | 1827744970320117760 |
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| author | Magnus Nilsson |
| author_facet | Magnus Nilsson |
| author_sort | Magnus Nilsson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article analyses aesthetical–political strategies for the promotion of class consciousness among workers in a few examples of contemporary Swedish working-class literature from different genres that describe and criticize precarious working conditions. Special attention is given to how these texts engage in dialogue with the notion of the precariat and to the authors’ use of decidedly literary forms. One important result is that Swedish working-class writers highlight the heterogeneity among those working under precarious conditions while also arguing that they share certain economic conditions, both amongst each other and with members of other groups (especially the traditional working class). Furthermore, it is argued that the use of literary forms (as opposed to, e.g., reportage or documentary) reflects the absence in the precariat of class consciousness, and the authors’ belief that literature can contribute to the creation of such a consciousness. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:58:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ce1aa5a24a214dab96f964d9a8222f58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0787 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:58:27Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Humanities |
| spelling | doaj.art-ce1aa5a24a214dab96f964d9a8222f582023-11-17T19:30:02ZengMDPI AGHumanities2076-07872023-03-011222810.3390/h12020028Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class LiteratureMagnus Nilsson0School of Arts and Communication, Faculty of Culture and Society, Malmö University, S-205 06 Malmö, SwedenThis article analyses aesthetical–political strategies for the promotion of class consciousness among workers in a few examples of contemporary Swedish working-class literature from different genres that describe and criticize precarious working conditions. Special attention is given to how these texts engage in dialogue with the notion of the precariat and to the authors’ use of decidedly literary forms. One important result is that Swedish working-class writers highlight the heterogeneity among those working under precarious conditions while also arguing that they share certain economic conditions, both amongst each other and with members of other groups (especially the traditional working class). Furthermore, it is argued that the use of literary forms (as opposed to, e.g., reportage or documentary) reflects the absence in the precariat of class consciousness, and the authors’ belief that literature can contribute to the creation of such a consciousness.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/2/28working-class literatureSwedish literatureprecariatworkclass consciousness |
| spellingShingle | Magnus Nilsson Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature Humanities working-class literature Swedish literature precariat work class consciousness |
| title | Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature |
| title_full | Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature |
| title_fullStr | Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature |
| title_short | Precarity and Class Consciousness in Contemporary Swedish Working-Class Literature |
| title_sort | precarity and class consciousness in contemporary swedish working class literature |
| topic | working-class literature Swedish literature precariat work class consciousness |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0787/12/2/28 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT magnusnilsson precarityandclassconsciousnessincontemporaryswedishworkingclassliterature |