The aim of this paper is to analyze the didactic potential of Mikael Niemis novel Popularmusic from Vittula as it relates to working with the fundamental values of the Swedish schoolsystem from two perspectives. The first of these relates to how the novel portrays gender, witha particular focus on masculinity and how it interprets itself, femininity, and the world aroundit. The second of these perspectives relates to how it portrays the national minority grouptornedalingar and their situation in Sweden. This paper aims to illustrate not only how thesetwo perspectives are portrayed but motivate why they are useful in the work with fundamentalvalues.

To answer these questions this paper utilizes the qualitative method of close reading in theanalysis of Niemis novel. The theoretical lense through which this is done includes researcherMalin Alkestrands definition of didactic potential as well as a repertoire of gender study andpostcolonial terminology, such as otherfication, masculinity and boyology. The study findsthat the didactic potential of Mikael Niemis text as it relates to gender lay in how it breakswith the traditional gender norms of rural masculinity. Another important factor is how thetext highlights the role of femininity and music in shaping the new male identity of thenovel’s protagonist, Matti. The study also finds that the didactic potential in Niemis portrayalof tornedalingar lay in its emphasizing of the political nature and origins of the historicotherfication of said ethnic minority.