Zaterdag 15 okt. 2016: Homo//communis

In samenwerking met Brainwash Festival
Met: Robert Glück, Obe Alkema & Prins de Vos

In conjunction with the Brainwash Festival, experimental literary podium Perdu presents a program touching upon the position and construction of non-heteronormative communities through art and writing. By examining less frequently represented perspectives on relationism and intimacy, we hope to contrast conventional narratives on being and being-together. The seminal New Narrative writer Robert Glück (USA/Sweden) and emerging poet/critic Obe Alkema (Netherlands) shed light on the intersections of philosophical theory, writing, gay identity and the desire for affective communities. Their readings of prose and poetry will be complemented by visual work from Dutch artist Prins de Vos. 

 Obe Alkema (1993) is a poet, critic and artistic entrepreneur. His poetry and essays have been published in various Dutch and international journals such as DW B, Sector 2337 and Metatron. He currently writes poetry reviews for the NRC Handelsblad.

Robert Glück (1947), one of the founders of the San Francisco-based New Narrative movement, is a renowned writer of hybrid novels, consisting of autobiographical storytelling, theory and gossip. Communal Nude, a collection of his essays, was recently published by Semiotext(e).

Prins de Vos (1991) is a photographer. Recently he published the photo-book Enclose, which novelist Arthur Japin has called “a work of love. It is the repercussion of an immersive surrender, a passionate quest for understanding and security, and a celebration of the other and the own.”

More detailed information about the programs and exact times will follow.

Entree: 7 / 5 EUR (for students, vrienden van perdu, stadspashouders, vvl-leden)
Reserveren: website Perdu

Vrijdag 14 okt. 2016: An Evening with Robert Glück

With: Robert Glück, Luca Asta & Looi van Kessel

Perdu is honored to host a program featuring the seminal New Narrative writer ROBERT GLÜCK. This program is dedicated to his innovative hybrid prose work - that blends elements of memoir, fiction, theory and gossip - and his broad range of essayistic writings, recently collected and published by Semiotext(e) under the moniker Communal Nude. On this intimate evening we will examine his intriguing and energetic work through interacting with it on a variety of different levels.

The first half of this evening will consist of a lecture by Robert Glück, focussing on the foundations of New Narrative writing (and on what this movement entails, precisely) and its implications on autobiographical writing and gay/political community.
Robert Glück's talks will be contrasted with hypnotizing video art by the young artist LUCA ASTA, who was hailed as one of the most promising graduates from the Rietveld Art Academy.

collage by Obe Alkema

 In the second half of the evening we will interact directly with Robert Glück's texts in the form of a communal reading. Together with the author, we will discuss three short essays that will be distributed through this page digitally and at the event itself in print form. In this intimate setting, we hope to channel and share affects and thoughts through an open and free discussion. Robert Glück will also read from recent prose work relating to his experiences with AIDS and the gay community. We hope to offer a productive and creative space for the sharing of experiences, critique and thoughts concerning literature, politics, queerness/homosexuality and much more. The communal reading will be moderated by Looi van Kessel. He is a scholar, specialized in postwar American (queer) literature and is writing a PhD on James Purdy and homosexual identity.

Robert Glück (1947), one of the founders of the San Francisco-based New Narrative movement, is a renowned writer of hybrid novels, consisting of autobiographical storytelling, theory and gossip. Communal Nude, a collection of his essays, was recently published by Semiotext(e).

Luca Asta (1993) is an artist currently residing in London. He has studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, where his work was selected for the 'Best of Graduates 2016' exhibition.

Looi van Kessel (1987) is a lecturer at Leiden University, where he also works on a PhD-thesis on the literature of James Purdy and the construction of homosexual identity.

Starts: 20:00
Doors open: 19.30
Tickets: 7 euro / 5 euro (students, stadspas, vvl, vrienden van perdu)

Reservations: website Perdu

Maandag 10 okt. 2016: Commitment and Poetry

With Najwan Darwish and Mia You & Petra de Bruijn

This event will bring together the two young and talented poets Najwan Darwish and Mia You for a poetry-reading session. They will, furthermore, discuss with Dr. de Bruijn questions regarding commitment in literature, fluid identities, and the power of the word as a way of representation and a vehicle for change.

Najwan Darwish is a Palestinian poet, journalist, and literary advisor. In 2009, Hay Festival Beirut named him one of the 39 best Arab writers under the age of 40. His collection of poetry, Nothing More to Lose, (New York Review Books), which was translated into English by Kareem James Abu-Zeid, has received many positive reviews in the national and international literary scene. He is the Chief Editor of the Cultural Section of Al Araby Al Jadeed newspaper.

photo by: Veronique Vercheval

Mia You was born in South Korea, raised in the United States, and currently lives in the Netherlands. She is the author of the poetry collection I, Too, Dislike It (1913 Press, 2016) and the chapbook Objective Practice (Achiote Press, 2007). With Chloe Garcia Roberts, she founded A. BRADSTREET; she is also an editor at Perdu, an experimental literary podium in Amsterdam, and a contributing editor at The Critical Flame.

photo by: Isabella Rozendaal

Dr. Petra de Bruin works at the Middle Eastern Studies department. She combines her scholarly research in the field of modern Turkish prose literature with research in the field of performing arts, especially modern Turkish theater and Turkish film and television drama. She is currently holding the position of executive secretary of The Leiden University Centre for the Study of Islam and Society (LUCIS) and is the director ad interim of the Netherlands Interuniversity School for Islamic Studies (NISIS).

This event is sponsored by: LUCIS the A.M.Qattan Foundation & Lutfia Rabbani Foundation

Starts: 20:00
Doors open: 19.30
Entrance: 7 euro / 5 euro (students, stadspas and vvl-members)

Reserveren kan via de website van Perdu