Sit In Series by Karin Sawetz, publisher Fashionoffice
(log series through March and April 2013, Vienna)

Day 1 - Day 2 - Day 3 - Day 4 - Day 5 - Day 6 - Day 7 - Day 8 - Day 9 - Day 10 - Day 11 - Day 12 - Day 13

Today, will write on occasion of the tenth day of my English course. On Day One, I introduced into the series which I entitled 'Sit In Series'. The series was started in my own language, in German, because it's easier to express thoughts and feelings with words which are deeply engraved into the brain from the first days of one's life by associated emotions and memories. But that's the reason for my English training with native speakers to bridge the gap between the English words and the barrier built from my grown language structure.

Learning is a nice thing. It opens the mind for new views on the world. And while acquiring the semantics (vocabulary) and syntactics (grammar) of a language, at the same time the pragmatics (definition of the three parts of 'semiotics' according to Charles Sanders Peirce - his work influenced the creation of digital computers) will be trained. The meaning of words and their combination carry the values of our society and develop 'reason' which determines our decisions and actions in future. Language is the basis for finding consensus in society.

Today, I will write about a prize which is dedicated to writers, illustrators, storytellers and reading promoters who enable kids to develop their understanding of our world by using 'text' - words and images.

The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is the world's largest prize for children's and young adult literature and is organized by the Swedish Arts Council. The prize is dedicated to the promotion of the interest in kids' literature and children's right to literature.

fig.: The image shows Astrid Lindgren, the name giver of ALMA - Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (alma.se). Already in the 1940ies, the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren wrote in a feminist fashion and became internationally known for the design of the new role model 'Pippi Longstocking'. Pippi was first created or 'born' 1945 and appeared in the 1960ies in a very successful kids TV-series which presented the main character, in the - as yet, uncommon role of a self-determined girl.

"Sugar on the floor and mayhem in the nursery - I just could not take that responsibility," refused publisher Gerhard Bonnier in the mid-40ies the publication of Pippi Longstocking (cited on alma.se/en/Astrid-Lindgren/). But Astrid Lindgren found another publisher (Rabén & Sjögren) and the stories about Pippi Longstocking went public in the mid-40ies. Teachers and parents were furious about Lindgren's girl character which broke traditional rules; a dangerous girl who had an opinion on anything and told it anyone. This girl didn't wait "...for her prince charming to come riding on his white stallion. She had her own horse..." writes Svante Törngren about the most famous character created by Astrid Lindgren.

Modern kids' literature and journalism have one thing in common; both should give the reader the choice where the journey goes. Like Astrid Lindgren was active for democratic values, journalism only provides information - the rest is up to the user.

Tomorrow on 26 March 2013, the winner (from 207 candidates, 67 countries) of the 2013 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award will be announced. You can attend the event via live stream, if you like - alma.se.

The video was produced on occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award in 2012. It gives an insight into the award and presents the recipients of the prize. The first recipient who appears in the video is the Austrian author Christine Nöstlinger.

 

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