Vilhelm Ekelund och det litterära fältet 1897-1949

• Vilhelm Ekelunds och det litterära fältet 1897-1949[Vilhelm Ekelund and the literary field 1897-1949]The theoretical background of this study is Pierre Bourdieu’s sociological approach to literature. I use his theory concerning the importance of cultural (and other forms of symbolic) capital for the individual artist – and his description of the literary field as a place characterized by continuous conflict between different categories of participants. In the article, I argue that as a young poet, Ekelund held a position in the field that was with the intellectual group as opposed to the group of commercial authors – and among the young avant-garde as opposed to among the consecrated and well-established writers. However, this position changed somewhat during the years Ekelund spent in exile (1908-1921), and it continued to change after his return to Sweden. His reputation as a thoroughly intellectual writer was accentuated and, as time passed, he himself became a consecrated artist with certain privileges – e.g. grants and awards – to defend.

Keyword

Vilhelm Ekelund

sociology of literature

literary field

symbolic capital

Pierre Bourdieu

Intercultural Studies

Interkulturella studier

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

rap (subject category)