Constance Debré on literary aesthetics | S.Fischer Gastprofessur

In the organizer's words:

English version below

What does it mean to have an aesthetic attitude in literature not as a decorative stylistic device, but as a form of thought, as a way of organizing the world, as a way of approaching the truth through language? How can literature - form-conscious, reduced - convey something fundamental about human existence?

French writer Constance Debré will be addressing these questions this evening. Debré became known in 2018 with Play Boy, a provocative and precisely observant novel that attracted international attention and was published in German translation in April. In Love Me Tender (2020), she deepened her exploration of themes such as freedom and loss. Her most recent book Nom (2022) continues her consistent formal and minimalist approach.

Critics praise her language for its unusual combination of rigor and emotional resonance - at times brutally direct, at others lyrically quiet. Motherhood, family or sexuality do not appear as central themes in her texts, but as part of the narrative terrain.

In conversation with Miryam Schellbach, editor and literary critic, Debré will talk about the function of fiction, the demands of form and the role of style as a way of thinking.

The event will be held in English. Free admission.

ENGLISH VERSION:

What does it mean to capture an aesthetic in literature-notas ornament, but as a way of thinking, a method of structuring the world, a means of approaching truth through form? How can language-structured, selective-approach something essential about existence?

These are among the questions that French writer Constance Debré will explore in an evening dedicated to literary aesthetics. Debré first gained wide attention with Play Boy (2018), a provocative and sharply observant novel. In Love Me Tender (2020), she expanded her focus on themes of freedom and loss. Her most recent book, Nom (2022), continues her commitment to form and minimalism.

Critics have praised her voice for its unusual combination of austerity and emotional resonance-at times brutal in its directness, at others quietly lyrical. Topics such as motherhood, family, and sexuality appear in her writing not as subjects to be explored, but as part of the landscape.

In conversation with Miryam Schellbach, editor and literary critic, Debré will reflect on the function of fiction, the demands of form, and the role of style as a mode of thought. The event will be held in English. Free admission.

The S.Fischer Guest Professorship is realized by S. Fischer Verlag, Freie Universität Berlin, DAAD and Holtzbrinck Berlin - Inspire Together.