"Diligently reading makes you wise, therefore read every single book" A discourse analysis of the value of literature according to three Swedish government official reports

This report aims to explore how literary value and the role of literature are articulated through Swedish literature policy by analyzing three literary Swedish government official reports (SOU 1974:5; SOU: 1997:141; SOU 2012:65). The report investigates how literature's purpose is described within Swedish cultural policy. The discourse analysis is conducted based on Michel Foucault’s theoretical framework, which is applied to the SOUs. The analysis showed that the SOUs primarily highlight literature's utility for the individual as a citizen within a democratic society. Books are emphasized as particularly valuable, with reading comprehension and democracy emerging as two of the most essential values associated with literature. Additionally, the SOUs address a broader perspective of literature as a means of fostering cultural education. However, this perspective is less emphasized and seems more difficult to substantiate within the SOUs. The report findings shed light on how literature, according to the SOUs, is predominantly viewed as a tool for fostering democratic values and individual development, emphasizing its societal benefits over its intrinsic artistic or cultural value.