Norwegian writer Carl Frode Tiller reflects on the writer’s role in society by discussing the dichotomy of being a public intellectual or focusing solely on literary work and how he navigates his participation in public discourse.
Tiller speaks candidly about his upbringing and its impact on his work ethic and writing process. He describes his approach to writing as a structured job, stating, “I stand up and try my best to approach writing as a regular job, with fixed workdays.” He contrasts this with the perception of writers as bohemian, stating, “It is very little bohemian when you see it from day to day.”
Throughout the interview, Tiller examines the challenges and opportunities in being a writer in today’s world. He reveals, “I am not the kind of author who feels comfortable stepping out into newspapers,” emphasizing his preference to express his viewpoints through literature. Despite his reluctance to engage directly in political debates, Tiller recognizes the political undertones in his work: “It is an existentialism that is buried, but it is also highly political in its understanding of issues like climate problems and loss of nature.”
Reflecting on his early career, Tiller recalls the pressure and media attention he faced, saying, “I was very unsure about how to fill this brand-new role in my life as an author.” He discusses how he has learned to relax and focus on his writing over time, noting, “Now that I am much more established, I am able to relax much more and think, as I said earlier, that I will speak through literature.”
Tiller emphasizes the importance of fiction in exploring and revealing truths about society, stating, “Fiction and fiction literature, I think, are very important for being able to say something about not just society but also existence.” He acknowledges the potential of literature to give voice to diverse perspectives and experiences that might otherwise go unheard.
Carl Frode Tiller (b. 1970) is an author, historian, and musician. His works are in Nynorsk (lit. “New Norwegian”), one of the official Norwegian standard languages. Tiller is known for his novels that delve into contemporary issues and personal narratives. His work often explores themes such as identity, memory, and the complexities of modern society. Tiller debuted in 2001 with the novel Skråninga (Downward Slope), recognized as the best initial work of the year with the Tarjei Vesaas’ Debute Prize. ‘Downward Slope’ was nominated for the Brageprisen (the Brage Prize). In November 2007, Tiller was awarded the Brageprisen for his novel ‘Innsirkling’ (Encirclement). In the fall of 2007 ‘Innsirkling’ received the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature and was nominated for the premiere Scandinavian literature prize, the Nordic Council’s Literature Prize.
Klaus Rothstein interviewed Carl Frode Tiller in connection with the Louisiana Literature festival in August 2022 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Camera: Rasmus Quistgaard
Edit: Signe Boe Pedersen
Produced by Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2024
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet and C.L. Davids Fond og Samling.
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