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CENTRE FOR EAST GERMAN STUDIES THE UNIVERSITY OF READING in co-operation with GESAMTEUROPÄISCHES STUDIENWERK VLOTHO 'Neues Land - neue Literatur? Die neue AutorInnen-Generation in Ost- und Westdeutschland nach der Einheit'. Conference at Vlotho, 11-15 July 2001 Call for Papers If theories which emphasise the reciprocal relationship between literature and its socio-political or historical context are to be believed, the profound upheavals of 1989-1990 should have produced a fundamental change in German writing in East and West. Such a 'Paradigmawechsel' was indeed called for by such critics as Frank Schirrmacher and Karl-Heinz Bohrer in their contributions to the 'Literaturstreit' of 1990 - though paradoxically for completely opposite theoretical reasons. The latter especially advocated a move away from what Ulrich Greiner had called 'Gesinnungsästhetik', a mode of writing dominated by socio-political and moral concerns, even a form of 'Geschichtsphilosophie', which, it was claimed, had dominated West as well as East German writing until 1989. Bohrer argued that it was time for a return to a more truly 'aesthetic' approach, one which would consider texts in terms of their formal qualities as literary artefacts rather than of their historical or moral content and which would emphasise their 'aesthetic autonomy' as works of art. In the ten years that have elapsed since the events - and the debates - of 1990 a considerable number of new, younger writers have emerged who owe nothing to the literary traditions of either the old Federal Republic or the GDR. Next year's Vlotho Conference will focus on this new generation and will seek to examine to what extent the predictions, expectations and demands publicised in the aftermath of the 'Wende' have been realised in their work. We invite offers of contributions both on formal and thematic aspects and on individual works and writers, possibly including any of the following: Bernhard Schlink, Hans-Ulrich Treichel, Birgit Vanderbeke, Marcel Beyer, Ingo Schulze, Judith Kuckart, Thomas Brussig, Georg Klein, Judith Hermann and Susanna Riedel. However, we shall be pleased to consider suggested papers on any other works or writers that fall within the compass of the conference. Contributions from British (or American) participants will, we anticipate, be complemented by a number from German colleagues. Papers should be of 40 minutes' duration and will be given in German. We hope that it will be possible subsequently to publish the collected papers from the conference. English-speaking contributors will be asked to provide an English version of their papers for this purpose. The number of participants who are not German citizens is limited, and anyone who is interested in giving a paper or in simply attending the conference is asked to contact us as soon as possible and by 15 December at the latest. The charge for participation, including accommodation and all meals, is expected to be in the region of DM 200. Please send all offers of papers (one page) as soon as possible to: Graham Jackman, Department of German Studies, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AA (e-mail: [log in to unmask]) Graham Jackman John Sandford Graham Jackman Dept. of German Studies, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%