Can literature contribute to justice? This question lies at the heart of the increased attention to literary texts in transitional justice processes. Poetic language does not necessarily embellish the world; it also enables us to see what is hidden and to better grasp experiences of harm and injustice. Likewise, stories allow us to make sense of the world and to foreground demands for human rights and dignity.
Antjie Krog’s oeuvre has played a seminal role in shaping our understanding of the relationship between literature and justice. Best known internationally for Country of My Skull (1998), one of the most influential works of literary non-fiction on the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Krog is the acclaimed author of numerous poetry collections in Afrikaans, as well as prose in English that explore the legacies of apartheid and the struggle to create a more humane society.
In this conversation with Brigitte Herremans, she will discuss issues of trauma and memory, the aesthetics and ethics of witnessing, the power of testimony, and the value of the arts in endeavours to advance transitional justice.
The event will be held in English. All are welcome. Admission is free, but registration is required for in-person attendance or online participation (via Zoom). For more information, please contact Brigitte Herremans.
Event organized by the Cultural Memory Studies Initiative, the Justice Visions project, and the UGent Human Rights Research Network, and the Faculty of Law and Criminology as part of the UGent Writer in Residence programme.
October 20, 2021
17:00 - 18:30
Bijlokekaai 1, 9000 Gent, Belgium
Organized by The Cultural Memory Studies Initiative, the Justice Visions project, the UGent Human Rights Research Network and the Faculty of Law and Criminology as part of the UGent Writer in Residence programme.
