Over at the Globe & Mail, the Tuesday essay asks why there are not more Canadian Literature professors on literary award juries.
It’s the start of a new year for Canadian literature. The hoopla surrounding last year’s Giller has quieted down. The Governor-General’s Literary Awards have been handed out. Soon Canada Reads will fill the gap and take over the public’s imagination. For most literary institutions, January is a sleepy time.
Break time is over, though, for literary prize foundations. I’m sure the Giller advisory board has already started drafting up potential jury lists for 2010, and that someone at the Canada Council has been tasked with a similar function. But I’m also certain that none of the names bandied about will be those of Canadian literature scholars.
Why? Because apparently literary critics (as opposed to reviewers) have no place in Canadian literary prize competitions.
Consider this: In the last 15 years of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, only two of out of the 36 jurists have been academics – one of whom helped create the prize.
Or have a glance at the 2009 jury members for poetry or fiction for the GG awards. Or at any point over the previous 20 years. See any scholars?
for the rest of the essay, please go here.
Tags: book reviewing, Canadian Literature, Giller Prize, Governor General's Awards, literary awards, literary criticism