How does contemporary Dutch literature respond to the supposed demise of Postmodernism? Can we detect parallels between the trends and themes in English-language Metamodernist literature and Dutch fiction and poetry?
On Friday 29 October 2021 Dennis Kersten and Usha Wilbers, members of the steering committee of the AHRC Metamodernism Network, organised a public debate to explore the manifestation of Metamodernism in Dutch literature. They invited seven renowned Dutch authors to Radboud University, Nijmegen: Karin Amatmoekrim, Rob van Essen, Maarten van der Graaff, Lisette Ma Neza, Joost Oomen, Joost de Vries and Niña Weijers. The authors debated issues such as literature’s response to the current cultural condition, the autonomy of the writer, the function of irony in contemporary literature and the impact of previous literary trends on their work. You can find a compilation of the debate, including subtitles, below.
Image copyright: Michelle Speel-Wilbers