Exploring Literature as Radical Aestetics: The Democratic and Radical Potential of Literature

• In Event: Exploring Multiple Languages in Emancipatory Praxis

Abstract

Research show that young people today experience increased stress and anxiety over global and societal challenges. In order to cultivate more equitable education for the future calls for empirically informed knowledge on the ways that education can deal with urgent issues of today. Drawing on critical literacy and the concept radical aesthetics the present paper aims to develop knowledge on female students’ experiences of literary encounters in school and about the conditions for literary reading to function as radical aesthetics in school. In the paper, we use qualitative interview material to argue that literature can be a means to reflect on pressing topics in today’s society for empowering and liberating purposes, in order for students to develop their political agency.

Authors

• Elin Sundström Sjödin, Mälardalen University

• Eva Hultin, Dalarna University