Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Why write in fragments of text? What does doing so offer, and what might be its limits and challenges? This paper is based on a talk that I gave to the annual Gregynog Theory School in 2024, in which I explored the potential of writing in fragments. In particular, I reflected on my effort to do so in my book Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Without wishing to be too indulgently self-referential, in this piece I hope to provide some anchor points and signposts for others who might be interested in exploring the option of writing in fragments. I do so by setting out what I mean by ‘fragments’ in the context of the city and how and why I wrote about them in the book, before a longer discussion on different experiments in fragment writing, including the limitations and challenges. Pam ysgrifennu mewn darnau o destun? Beth mae gwneud hynny'n ei gynnig, a beth allai’r cyfyngiadau a'r heriau fod? Mae'r papur hwn yn seiliedig ar gyflwyniad a roddais i'r Ysgol Theori Gregynog blynyddol yn 2024, lle bues i’n trin a thrafod potensial ysgrifennu mewn darnau. Yn benodol, trafodais fy ymdrech i wneud hynny yn fy llyfr, Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Heb hunanfyfyrio’n ormodol, yn y darn hwn rwy'n gobeithio cynnig mannau angori a chyfeiriadau a allai fod â diddordeb i’r sawl sy’n ystyried rhyddiaith ddarniog. Rwy'n gwneud hynny drwy nodi beth rwy'n ei olygu wrth 'ddarnau' yng nghyd-destun y ddinas a sut a pham ysgrifennais amdanyn nhw yn fy llyfr. Yna, byddaf yn trafod yn ehangach ar wahanol arbrofion mewn rhyddiaith ddarniog, gan gynnwys y cyfyngiadau a'r heriau sy’n codi.
DOI: 10.18573/agoriad.51
Author: Colin McFarlane
Institution: Durham University
Language: English
Subfield: Visual Arts and Performing Arts
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4416003959