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The Conference for Writers and Translators from the Baltic Sea Region
30th September - 2nd October 2004

The fifth Littera Baltica conference in Turku will be held from Thursday, Sept.30th to Saturday, Oct.2nd 2004, roughly at the same time as the Turku Book Fair. The location is right in the town centre, at Gillesgården, Aurakatu 1 a G, 20100 Turku, Finland. The theme for this year's meeting is ”On the Edge” - a loan from Saarikoski's "The edge of Europe", and it implies several sub-themes, e.g.:

On the edge of Europe? The Baltic Sea Region includes many diverse cultures, languages and literary tradition. We have a long tradition of cultural exchange, but at the same time, great differences in both literary and historical development. Although the small languages ”on the edge of Europe” are harassed by the expanding internationalisation, it is this variety that provides the strength of the region. Is not every outstanding literary work deeply rooted in its own linguistic and cultural originality?

On the edge of the field of vision? A crucial aspect of literary creativity is the endeavour to write on the edge, on the brim of vision, on the periphery of what lends itself to be written. It might be a matter of breaking up literary conventions, narrative conventions, sterotypes when it comes to gender, relations, age, growing up - yes, what? This theme, which places itself on the edge of inscrutability, contains several openings for discussion and debate, and lots of different angles of approach.

On the edge of authorship? Creative writing courses function as a sort of stepping stone towards becoming a professional writer, by means of establishing a reference group for mutual critique, comparison, support and encouragement under professional guidance. In countries where creative writing courses have been held for many decades (Sweden, Denmark, Norway) it might be argued that they have had an impact on the literary climate, and thus in a long-term perspective on the surrounding society. In many Baltic countries, however, and to some extent also in Finland, one is met by rather suspicious attitudes: Is it really possible to be taught how to be a writer? There is the fear that creative writing courses might lead to an increased uniformity in literature, that young writers will be brainwashed to write in an ”appropriate” manner. If one subscribes to the romantic view of the writer as the vehicle of wingéd inspiration, perhaps the idea that it is possible to ”learn” the art of writing may be regarded as a narcissistic insult?

On the edge of the stage? In comparison to writing for publication in book-form,writing for the stage is quite a different kind of work In Finland, many of the young generation of prose writers have an educational background in dramaturgy, the oldest and perhaps still the most influential form of professional training for writers in our country. At the same time, compared to what is happening in the professional world of writing, drama seems to be slightly off-centre,- perhaps a little bit "on the edge"?