106-406 Contested Sites

Formerly available as 106-093. Students who have completed 106-093 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in English, see Honours entry or admission to Bachelor of Creative Arts (honours).

This subject offers a space for reflection and debate in areas often neglected in postmodern perspectives; that is, in the politics and ethics of writing. Drawing upon a wide range of imaginative, critical and theoretical texts, the subject focuses on the text as a site of contestation in terms of intertextuality and interspatiality. The focus is on both competing narratives and voices (in terms of the politics of gender, ethnicity, cultural experience); and the sites ('real' or 'fabulous') conjured or performed by the writing. The subject enables students to explore the limits of writing, to examine writing as testimony and writing as contestation, without discounting writing as productive of new modes of subjectivity and desire. By taking into account the silenced stories or histories that any writing involves, the subject should give students a chance to reflect and exchange on the theoretical, political and ethical implications of choices made in their creative writing practice.

• demonstrate a recognition of the complex political and ethical issues around writing;

• develop experimental techniques expressive of this awareness;

• be able to research, develop and edit extended creative projects showing some innovative flair.

All students are required to submit a draft Project Proposal of not more than 1500 words including a synopsis, critical reflection and 500 word draft extract for feedback and will be resubmitted in a refined form together with the completed writing project. Writing Project of 4000 words including the revised synopsis and critical reflection of 1000 words 80% (due at the end of semester). The writer's notebook 10% (due at the end of semester) and workshop participation 10%.

A subject reader will be available. Recommended Reading: Current issues of postgraduate Creative Writing publications.

• Strange. Crooked Styles Press, University of Melbourne.
• This. Crooked Styles Press, University of Melbourne.