Life writing
Encyclopedia
Life writing is a fluid term used to describe the recording of selves, memories and experiences, whether one's own or another's. It is a term deliberately designed to describe many genres and practices, under which can be found autobiography
, biography, memoir
, diaries, letters, testimonies, autoethnography, personal essays and, more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email.
Life writing can also be linked with genealogical study: when recording one's life it is common to become curious about the lives of others that have affected one over time and, if they have not recorded their own life, to start doing it for them.
The continued popularity of the biographic form can be seen with the recent publication of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
, an updated version of a 19th century publication, containing 50,113 biographic articles about 54,922 people who have significantly affected and shaped Britain.
In 1975, psychologist Ira Progoff
noted the positive affects that journal writing, or autobiographical writing could have. The findings of Progoff’s research showed that not only could an Intensive Journal Method
enhance personal growth and learning, but also that it could “draw each person’s life towards wholeness at its own tempo”
Research into life writing has also found that it can facilitate the expression of feeling, a shift in personal thinking and the development of a feeling of self control and confidence, especially in individuals with low self esteem. It has also been claimed that autobiographical writing helps with these deep issues as it allows the problem to be dealt with in a new, different and unusual way. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=08-10-2013&FMT=7&DID=740212961&RQT=309&attempt=1&cfc=1
Another benefit to life writing is the pleasure and positive experience in re-living old memories and events, while knowing that they are being recorded and therefore will be remembered in years to come by future generations. People want to be remembered and through family orientated activity such as life writing the process can be more rewarding.
Life writing also enables family information, as well as emotions and feeling about history to be remembered, for example life writing can give the opportunity to pass down family traditions, recipes and memorabilia.
With the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative and dementia diseases, especially in the developed world, it is being seen as even more important to leave a record of yourself and your times. There is also some evidence to support the claim that increased intellectual activity and brain stimulation i.e. recording your memories can lower the individual risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/348/25/2508
and the University of Sussex
.
The Centres are multi-disciplinary, with contributors from history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies and psychology as well as English language and literature and aim to produce academic publications in the field of life writing as well as contributing through other mediums, such as television, radio and the internet.
The University of Sussex Library is also home to the Mass-Observation
Archive, a large collection of material from everyday life, personally kept routines and diaries that were collated between 1937 to the early 1950’s. More recently Mass-Observation
Archive has been collecting new material since the early 1980’s, in order to generate a comparable record of everyday life from a personal perspective. The archive is considered of great social and cultural importance as well as supplying previously unheard accounts and stories of routine wartime and contemporary Britain.
Margery Kempe
, an early 15th century English woman, is believed to have written the first autobiography in the English language, though it was a production that depended upon the help of scribes. This text provides what could be the best insight into a female, middle class experience in the Middle Ages.
Other famous examples include Mein Kampf
by Adolf Hitler
and Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela
.
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, biography, memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
, diaries, letters, testimonies, autoethnography, personal essays and, more recently, digital forms such as blogs and email.
Life writing can also be linked with genealogical study: when recording one's life it is common to become curious about the lives of others that have affected one over time and, if they have not recorded their own life, to start doing it for them.
The continued popularity of the biographic form can be seen with the recent publication of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
, an updated version of a 19th century publication, containing 50,113 biographic articles about 54,922 people who have significantly affected and shaped Britain.
Why Life Writing?
Life writing has become increasingly popular and, as a result, academic research into the subject has also increased. Life writers and historians state that life writing and life history are useful academically as they provide first hand stories and accounts of individuals and their relationship with society, history, public life as well as detailed personal insights. http://www-distance.syr.edu/journal1.html At the same time, the prevalence of confessional writing, reading and related audio/visual 'reality' shows has been argued to reflect the extreme individualism of late modern societies.In 1975, psychologist Ira Progoff
Ira Progoff
Ira Progoff was an American psychotherapist, best known for his development of the Intensive Journal Method while at Drew University. His main interest was in depth psychology and particularly the humanistic adaptation of Jungian ideas to the lives of ordinary people...
noted the positive affects that journal writing, or autobiographical writing could have. The findings of Progoff’s research showed that not only could an Intensive Journal Method
Intensive Journal Method
The Intensive Journal Method is a psychotherapeutic technique largely developed in 1966 at Drew University and popularized by Ira Progoff . It consists of a series of writing exercises using loose leaf notebook paper in a simple ring binder, divided into sections to help in accessing various areas...
enhance personal growth and learning, but also that it could “draw each person’s life towards wholeness at its own tempo”
Research into life writing has also found that it can facilitate the expression of feeling, a shift in personal thinking and the development of a feeling of self control and confidence, especially in individuals with low self esteem. It has also been claimed that autobiographical writing helps with these deep issues as it allows the problem to be dealt with in a new, different and unusual way. http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?Ver=1&Exp=08-10-2013&FMT=7&DID=740212961&RQT=309&attempt=1&cfc=1
Another benefit to life writing is the pleasure and positive experience in re-living old memories and events, while knowing that they are being recorded and therefore will be remembered in years to come by future generations. People want to be remembered and through family orientated activity such as life writing the process can be more rewarding.
Life writing also enables family information, as well as emotions and feeling about history to be remembered, for example life writing can give the opportunity to pass down family traditions, recipes and memorabilia.
With the increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s and other degenerative and dementia diseases, especially in the developed world, it is being seen as even more important to leave a record of yourself and your times. There is also some evidence to support the claim that increased intellectual activity and brain stimulation i.e. recording your memories can lower the individual risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s.http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/348/25/2508
Academic Study
There are now Centres for Life Writing Research at both King's College LondonKing's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
and the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
.
The Centres are multi-disciplinary, with contributors from history, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, cultural studies and psychology as well as English language and literature and aim to produce academic publications in the field of life writing as well as contributing through other mediums, such as television, radio and the internet.
The University of Sussex Library is also home to the Mass-Observation
Mass-Observation
Mass Observation was a United Kingdom social research organisation founded in 1937. Their work ended in the mid 1960s but was revived in 1981. The Archive is housed at the University of Sussex....
Archive, a large collection of material from everyday life, personally kept routines and diaries that were collated between 1937 to the early 1950’s. More recently Mass-Observation
Mass-Observation
Mass Observation was a United Kingdom social research organisation founded in 1937. Their work ended in the mid 1960s but was revived in 1981. The Archive is housed at the University of Sussex....
Archive has been collecting new material since the early 1980’s, in order to generate a comparable record of everyday life from a personal perspective. The archive is considered of great social and cultural importance as well as supplying previously unheard accounts and stories of routine wartime and contemporary Britain.
Famous Examples of Life Writing
Life writing has been evident for nearly 2,000 years. St Augustine’s autobiographical work being one example from the late 4th century DC.Margery Kempe
Margery Kempe
Margery Kempe is known for dictating The Book of Margery Kempe, a work considered by some to be the first autobiography in the English language. This book chronicles, to some extent, her extensive pilgrimages to various holy sites in Europe and Asia, as well as her mystical conversations with God...
, an early 15th century English woman, is believed to have written the first autobiography in the English language, though it was a production that depended upon the help of scribes. This text provides what could be the best insight into a female, middle class experience in the Middle Ages.
Other famous examples include Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf
Mein Kampf is a book written by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. It combines elements of autobiography with an exposition of Hitler's political ideology. Volume 1 of Mein Kampf was published in 1925 and Volume 2 in 1926...
by Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...
and Long Walk to Freedom
Long Walk to Freedom
Long Walk to Freedom is an autobiographical work written by Nelson Mandela, and published in 1995 by Little Brown & Co. The book profiles his early life, coming of age, education and 27 years in prison. Mandela was once regarded as a terrorist but he is now regarded as uncontroversial...
by Nelson Mandela
Nelson Mandela
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
.