Go listen the first 2 episodes of The Asterisk Conversations, the new podcast by philosopher and writer Simon(e) van Saarloos* >>
"Oh Man,
Oh Man,
Illustrious silk-pyjamaed occupier
of lofts, conference rooms,
palazzos and penthouses!
'Tis I who awaken thee!"
- Annemarie Estor, CANTO EXCREMENTIS
Read the whole contribution and those of authors Sulaiman Addonia and Amahl Raphael Khouri for the poetic program #BackToEarth: Tout-Monde (Whole World) and experience the world from a different, more complete, perspective.
Read more about 'Never heard a text like this.' Moderator Chris Keulemans on 'Canto Excrementis' by Annemarie Estor
The German writer, journalist and cultural scientist Mithu Sanyal delivered her keynote speech Love Politics on the occasion of #TheFutureIsFemale: The Female Convention. Read or watch an inspiring and confrontational report by a driven researcher about her investigation into love as a political force.
Read more about Watch or read 'Love Politics', keynote speech by Mithu Sanyal
A future world destroyed by extreme climate change is the setting of the novel The Swan Book (2013) by Aboriginal author Alexis Wright. For the program #StillWeRise: Writing Climate (In)Justice authors Sanam Sheriff, Benjamin Fro, Chihiro Geuzebroek and Leena Norms each respond to The Swan Book and the current climate crisis. Their contributions on request of the Winternachten international literature festival The Hague are now available on our site.
Read more about 'The Swan Book' by Alexis Wright inspired four festival authors
The dedicated contributions by authors Arnon Grunberg, Eva Meijer, Salena Godden, Raoul de Jong, Jaap Tielbeke and Simon(e) van Saarloos written and performed at Opening Night of Winternachten are available online now. From whose idea of "we" do they want to make a difference? What is needed to feel a sense of "us"? And is it even really up to us? Read their thoughts and reflections on the festival theme It's Up to Us!
Read more about Read the opening statement by Arnon Grunberg
In the silence of the first lockdown in the spring of 2020, Writers Unlimited's desire grew to be present with a substantive contribution to society and the world.
We found a collaboration with Simon(e) van Saarloos, who noticed during the Winternachten festival 2020 that sexuality and gender were still too little negotiable and visible in our programming and the social debate.
What is real happiness? Is happiness collective or individual? Can happiness contribute to the struggle for a fair world, and how? These questions are the starting point for #SoulCare: Radical Happiness, to be seen as a live stream in the online Winternachten festival on Sunday 17 January. Programme maker Fleur Jeras explains what inspired her.
Read more about Can happiness be a form of activism?
