What is Life Writing?
Life writing essentially refers to the recording of an individual’s life through such texts types as autobiography, biography, poetry and diary entries. As a literary genre, “life writing” explores such concepts as memories, the blurred line between factional and fictional accounts, historical contexts, allusion, relationships and narration.
Distinguishing between ‘Life-Writing” and “Biography”
Why is “life-writing” not simply referred to as “autobiography” or “biography”?
According to the Oxford Centre for Life Writing, “Life-writing involves, and goes beyond, biography.” It incorporates “complete life, day-in-the-life, fictional, factional accounts, individuals, families and groups.”
In other words, the study of “life-writing” is the study of a variety of texts that relate to a life. “Autobiography” or “biography” are only some of the elements associated with “life writing”.
Distinguishing between ‘Life-Writing” and “Biography”
Why is “life-writing” not simply referred to as “autobiography” or “biography”?
According to the Oxford Centre for Life Writing, “Life-writing involves, and goes beyond, biography.” It incorporates “complete life, day-in-the-life, fictional, factional accounts, individuals, families and groups.”
In other words, the study of “life-writing” is the study of a variety of texts that relate to a life. “Autobiography” or “biography” are only some of the elements associated with “life writing”.