Dutch Poet Laureate next Guest Writer at University of Groningen

Author, poet, playwright and Poet Laureate Anne Vegter is the new Guest Writer at the University of Groningen. Starting in September 2014, she will give three public lectures on the theme ‘Violence and Love’, followed by a public discussion with Ola Mafaalani, the artistic director of the Noord Nederlands Toneel (NNT theatre company). In addition, she will organize seminars for a selected group of students on conflict and language in play scripts and about writing a poetic monologue. The public appearances will be on Monday evenings, 22 and 29 September and 6 and 13 October, in the Aula of the Academy Building (8-9.30 p.m.).

Programme

Taking as her starting point a cycle of poems from her latest collection, Anne Vegter will give three lectures on the theme violence and love. Vegter makes use of deregulating writing tactics. Language for her is not only to describe or reveal, but also to confuse, to wound or to lead astray. Violence and love are often closely related, not only in the content of literary works, but also in the writing procedure and in language. Her lectures will offer an excursion through her wayward literary universe. Using her own work and fragments from the works of Paul Celan, Elfriede Jellinek, Werner Schwab, Susan Sontag and Antjie Krog, among others, Anne Vegter will explore violent processes and budding love affairs in poetry and drama writing.

Anne Vegter

Guest Writer

Since 1986, the University of Groningen has appointed a Guest Writer each autumn who gives public lectures and a series of seminars. Previous guest writers at the University of Groningen included Dick Hillenius, Doeschka Meijsing, Willem Wilmink, Monica van Paemel, Willem Jan Otten, Gerrit Krol, Nelleke Noordervliet, Bernlef, Rutger Kopland, Joost Zwagerman, Thomas Rosenboom, Bas Heijne, Koos van Zomeren, Tonnus Oosterhoff, Marjolijn Februari, Esther Jansma, Kader Abdolah, Arthur Japin, Annejet van der Zijl, Hans Aarsman and Marjoleine de Vos.