In this unit students engage with creative and theoretical ideas about narrative non-fiction, reading both short (essay) and long-form narrative (non-fiction books) with a focus on developing their own voice. Students will read, critique and write non-fiction, and consider the similarities between narrative non-fiction and both fiction writing and journalistic writing. They will be introduced to the use of research in creative work as well as an introduction to interviewing techniques. Students are encouraged to think about how non-fiction writing can be used to address contemporary issues in a highly creative form. This unit has a socio-political focus on marginal identities and questioning power structure through narrative. Examples include those which are situated in the West of Melbourne; migrant, indigenous, working-class, queer and feminist perspectives. This unit includes narrative non-fiction theory, immersion theory and notions of subjectivity, and appropriate cultural studies theory about power structures and 'the other' in our culture. In this unit students will build upon the work they have undertaken in Memoir, Copy and Story and will be prepared for Industry Placement and the capstones projects.
