The early 60s, Swedish literature was still under the influence of relativism and unfaithfulness but during the second part of the 1960s, the political and economical debate is introduced in the arts. New, more genuine forms are sought and the “aristocracy-modernism” is dismissed when turning the back towards academia and media. Socialrealistic reporterprose and ideological criticism becomes in fashion. Literature is no longer art but serves to deliver emotions, in a functional way. Arts should serve people, as an act of solidarity.
The notion of culture broadens. The literary critic is now a contemporary intellectual as opposed to yesterday’s esthetical judge. The French structuralism is introduced in Sweden and along comes the “nouveau roman”. Important genres in the Swedish literature of the 60s are journey accounts (Sven Lindqvist, Jan Myrdal), reports and documentaries (PC Jersild, Sara Lidman) where interviews are common and also experimental prose (Torsten Ekbom).
