Brisbane Writers Festival has been swept into a storm of controversy after the opening address of American author Lionel Shriver caused members of the audience to walk out.
Shriver, who famously wrote the book We Need To Talk About Kevin, spoke of cultural appropriation and political correctness in her keynote address starting off the back of a story of a group of American college students who were criticised for wearing sombreros to a Mexican-themed party.
She went on to lash out at critics of a white British author who wrote about the experience of a young Nigerian woman.
Critics of the speech said Ms Shriver's attitude and theories, which they accused her of hiding behind humour and under the guise of dangerous ideas, ignored issues of identity and culture.
One of those who walked out of the speech was celebrated Australian writer Yassmin Abdel-Magied, who wrote a blog post about it, said the address harked back to colonial rule.
"It's not always okay if a white guy writes the story of a Nigerian woman because the actual Nigerian woman can't get published or reviewed to begin with," she wrote.
"In making light of the need to hold onto any vestige of identity, Shriver completely disregards not only history, but current reality.
"The reality is that those from marginalised groups, even today, do not get the luxury of defining their own place in a norm that is profoundly white, straight and, often, patriarchal.
And in demanding that the right to identity should be given up, Shriver epitomised the kind of attitude that led to the normalisation of imperialist, colonial rule: 'I want this, and therefore I shall take it.'."
A festival volunteer Yen-Rong Wong, also responded to the speech in a blog post.
"As a semi-aspiring writer myself, and one who has sunk a significant amount of time and brain power to discussing subversive women and Othered characters in non-Western societies, Shriver's address was alarming, to say the least," she wrote.
"The publishing industry is chock full of white men, and advocating for their 'right' to write from the perspective of someone in a marginalised position takes opportunities away from those with authentic experiences to share. In other words, the subaltern continue to be silenced, and still cannot speak."
As a result of the backlash, Brisbane Writers Festival organised a "right of reply" event, giving writers like Ms Abdel-Magied, Rajith Savanadasa and Suki Kim the opportunity to continue the conversation.
In a post on the Brisbane Writer's Festival website, festival director Julie Beveridge admitted that Ms Shriver had moved away from the brief she was given when she gave her opening address.
"Every year, our keynote address aims to set the tone for the Festival," Ms Beveridge said.
"On Thursday night, Lionel Shriver – by her own admission - did not speak to her brief. The views expressed during her address were hers alone.
"Brisbane Writers Festival strives for a forum where strong viewpoints and challenging conversation can be aired with respect, inclusivity and open minds. And therefore, I choose for the Opening Address to not go unanswered."
The Right of Reply event was held on Saturday night.