Schrijven na Auschwitz, na apartheid, na de digital turn
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Pretoria
Abstract
In this paper I discuss the concept of "engaged poetry" and the position of poetry with a so-called ethic dimension in the digital era. Taking the famous aphorism by Theodor W. Adorno as a starting point-"Nach Auschwitz ein Gedicht zu schreiben, ist barbarisch" ("After Auschwitz writing poetry is barbaric")-and the two different interpretations of that statement formulated by the philosopher himself, I consider the relevance of the term "engaged literature". I am aware that this article not only summarizes Adorno's points of view, but I also present my own personal poetics as an academic and as a reader of modern poetry. I refer to contemporary poetry of Afrikaans in South Africa and Dutch, more particularly literature in the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, to illustrate my point.
Description
CITATION: T'Sjoen, Y. 2015. Schrijven na Auschwitz, na apartheid, na de digital turn. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, 52(1):94-112, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tvl.v52i1.7.
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
The original publication is available at http://www.scielo.org.za
Keywords
Afrikaans poetry -- Criticism and interpretation, Dutch poetry -- Criticism and interpretation, Adorno, Theodor W., 1903-1969 -- Criticism and interpretation, Literature and society, Committed poetry
Citation
T'Sjoen, Y. 2015. Schrijven na Auschwitz, na apartheid, na de digital turn. Tydskrif vir Letterkunde, 52(1):94-112, doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/tvl.v52i1.7.