A Glimpse of Danish Literature [Part 6]

The 1968 consumerist social protest movements in Europe directed literature and art toward sociology and politics .

Modern literature period

Writer I. Christensen.

In the 60s, two typical young writers, I. Christensen and Haw-Jorgen Niesen, demanded to judge man not according to his given values, but in his relationship with society. They both had a “committed” attitude towards politics and society. Their tendency continued in the generation of the 70s.

In general, the consumerist social protest movements of 1968 in Europe (and later in the US) directed the arts towards sociological and political paths (discussing issues, liberating women). In particular, Danish women were very active (investigative journalism and interviewing developed, even among students and workers).

The sociologically inclined poetry of Vita Andersen and P. Poulsen (exploration of linguistics and structure). The generation of 70s included symbolist writers, divided between political poetry and historical novels. In the early 80s, the revolt against the society of abundance and consumption emerged again.

EK Reich (born 1940) combines historical material with a non-dogmatic political consciousness. The Life of Zenobia (1999) tells of his travels between Denmark and Syria in the 5th century. Hjernoe (born 1938) uses material but focuses on linguistics and philosophy. H. Bjelke (born 1937) is influenced by James Joyce in his major work (Saturu - 1974) on the myth of reincarnation, the fragmented self wandering in the present and the mythical world .

There is a more understandable literary genre, which is difficult to classify (like St. Kaalo, born in 1945).

The social realism movement of the 1950s continued with U. Graes (born 1940) and the novels about workers and poems of L. Nielsen (born 1935). The ambition for a new society was expressed through romantic, revolutionary dreams. This was the case with V. Lundbye (born 1933), R. Gjedsted (born 1947).

Social and political commitment marks the works of M. Larsen (born 1951). Vita Andersen (born 1944) combines current issues with intimate feelings, popular in the 70s.

Writer Peter Hoeg.

The Nordic Council Literature Prize 2000 was awarded to the poetry collection Bridges of Dreaming by Henrik Nordbrandt (born 1945). The collection was published in 1998; thus the award can be considered to be awarded to his entire body of poetry. According to the jury, “the bridge” has become a symbol of life between coming and going, and at the same time a symbol of the experience of loss and recovery in poetry.

During the 80s and 90s, readers were fed up with sentimental accounts of everyday life and formal writing that lacked any form; at the same time, Marxism was overshadowed by non-socialist political movements, and literature returned to its true literary roots.

The new generation of modern writers (Michel Strunge, Bo Green Jensen, Pia Tardrup, Suren Ulrik Thomsen) responded to the call of rock music but also returned to both romantic and symbolic forms, especially in poetry. Henrik Stangerup, a realist, turned to cultural history and myth. Ole Sarvig and Jorgen Bradt revived the hymn. This genre was also noticed by a new religious sentiment and environmental problems (Thorkild Bjornvig, Vagn Lundbye).

In the art of vivid storytelling, Kirsten Thurup (social, realistic, psychological colors), Suzanne Brogger (half fiction, half memoir) have emerged. In particular, Peter Hoeg has become a great Danish writer and a writer of international stature.

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