Presenter(s): Kaya Noteboom
Faculty Mentor(s): Mark Hennion
Oral Session 2 DL
Auto-fiction is a literary form that situates autobiographical elements of the author in fiction. How much is made-up and how much is factual varies on a spectrum from almost all to almost nothing. This is a form interested in challenging monotonous expectations of fiction by utilizing components of non-fiction. My research explores how narrative voice and character interiority function differently in fiction compared to non-fiction, and how narrative voice and character interiority can be used to subvert expectations of fiction in works of auto-fiction. I analyze the writings of Ben Lerner, a prominent auto-fiction author, and contrast his work with personal essays. My research is guided by the critical analysis Amit Chaudhuri and Ben Marcus, who practice versions of auto-fiction themselves, and provide helpful opinions on the subgenre. By exploring the role of character interiority and narrative voice in blurring the line between fiction and non-fiction, we might gain insight on how to better innovate components of fiction that are tired and expected.