1. Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of experimental writing’s principles and development.
2. Evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems and propose solutions to problems arising from analysis.
3. Apply underlying concepts and principles critically and/or creatively in a written portfolio
4. Demonstrate development of existing skills, and acquisition of new competencies that will require the exercise of independent research and decision-making

Learning Portfolio – to consist of two contributions to group learning on the module using authentic assessment forms such as podcasts, presentations, vlogs, blogs, leading group sessions, poster presentations. Forms must vary in each portfolio. Final piece in the portfolio will be a ‘verbal pitch’: student must pitch their ideas for their final assignment to a tutor. Each piece must incorporate reflection. (LOs: 1,2,3)
Essay or Creative writing piece – a literary-critical essay or a piece of creative writing (including reflection) (Los: 1,2,3,4)

The module tackles the idea of writing as an experiment and explore the relationship between science, technology, and literature. We will explore advanced experimental writing techniques in poetry, drama, and prose. You will develop your understanding the relationships between critical thinking, creative process and writing practice, and understand the historical context of experimental writing. You can either critically analyse literature in the genre or write your own examples of avant garde text with an emphasis on practice-based experimentation.

Indicative Texts:

Cage, J., 1979.¿Empty Words: Writings '73-'78.¿Middleton: Wesleyan University Press.
Danielewski, M. Z., 2000. House of Leaves. NY: Doubleday.
Hall, S., 2022. Maxwell’s Demon. Edinburgh: Canongate Books.
Joyce, J. 1939. Finnegans Wake. London: Penguin.
Perec, G., Adair, G., (trans). 2008. A Void. London: Vintage.

Rules are made to be broken. Experimental writing pushes the limits of and language and exposes the limitations of traditional literary practices. In this module, you will test these boundaries creatively or critically analyse some of the most challenging texts in literature.

Literary Critics and Creative Writers will work together in this module though a series of interactive workshops in which we produce ‘literary experiments’ in order to understand the principles of experimental writing. ¿One of the principles underlying this module is a mutually beneficial relationship between critical and creative thinking, that critical writing and ideas influence creative textual production. The practice of writing can be assisted by knowledge and understanding of literature.

ARMSTRONG, J., 2014. Experimental Fiction: An Introduction for Readers and Writers. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
COLBY, G., 2021. Reading Experimental Writing. Edinburgh: Edinburgh Univ. Press.
MORRIS, A.K., 1997.¿Sound States: Innovative Poetics and Acoustical Technologies.¿Chapel Hill: Univ. of North Carolina Press.
PERLOFF, M., 1991.¿Radical Artifice: Writing Poetry in the Age of Media.¿Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press.

Library and VLE