Ikvertellers

Ikvertellers is a term used in Dutch-language discourse to describe individuals who actively construct and present their life stories as a central element of their identity. The term blends ik (I) with vertellers (storytellers) and is applied across media, from written memoirs to oral storytelling and digital self-presentation.

In academic and public discourse, ikvertellers are described as hobbyists, professionals, or everyday communicators who curate personal narratives for an audience. The focus is on first-person narration, meaning-making, and the construction of self through memory and interpretation rather than objective reportage.

Contexts and functions: In literature and media studies, the concept is used to analyze how life-writing shapes memory, credibility, and social capital. In psychology and clinical settings, it relates to narrative identity—the idea that people continually assemble stories to define who they are.

Digital culture has intensified the phenomenon, with blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and social media posts offering ongoing platforms for ikvertellers to perform, revise, and monetize their narratives.

Key characteristics include agency in shaping tone and details, a focus on turning points, and an awareness of audience. Critics warn about performativity, authenticity concerns, and potential cultural constraints on self-disclosure.

Because the term is not universally standardized, its boundaries overlap with memoir, life-writing, and autobiographical storytelling. It is largely descriptive, used to discuss contemporary practices rather than to propose a fixed theory.