The author Christine Otten does not want to be locked in her own world. She can be whoever she wants in her novels; a man, black or old, or a criminal. This is how she connects to others and the connection is what brings us closer together. This essential, empathic contact brings about a change between people, because something new is created. In her talk, Christine explains how connecting doesn’t just bring us closer to one another but also gives us a better understanding of our own identity.

Christine Otten, started her career as a journalist and broke through as an author with her novel The Last Poets in 2004 for which she was nominated for the Libris Literature Prize. The book was adapted for the stage and translated in English. The main themes of her most recent published novel We hadden liefde, We Hadden Wapens (We Had Love, We Had Guns), are resistance, love and family. Literary freedom and cultural appropriation are the main themes here. The novel is set to have its premiere as a theatre play in January 2017 starring Huub van der Lubbe, Akwasi, Manouschka Zeegelaar Breeveld and Ntjam Rosie.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx