Last Thursday I attended a symposium on 'addiction'. This symposium in the literature and medicine series focussed on the role of addiction in literature, in poetry, fiction, song lirics et cetera (see http://www.vu.nl/nl/nieuws-agenda/nieuws/2008/jul-sep/expositie-aan-de-ketting-verslaving-en-afkicken.asp). With bright, funny, insightful and sharp contributions of Armand Girbes ( http://armandgirbes.com/), Aafke de Groot, Jelly Brouwers, Arko Oderwald, Stefan Brijs and a musical intermezzo of Rick de Leeuw and Jan Hautekiet, it was a great afternoon. The symposium also introduced the book "Aan de Ketting" ('Chained') on addiction in literature edited by Arko Oderwald, Koos Neuvel and Willem van Tilburg.
Some citations: 'The desire for a cigarette is the desire itself" (Rutger Kopland), and "Addiction is a sanctuary without a roof" (Jelly Brouwers)
