Abstract
Through an informed exercise in creating and writing original historical fiction, this practice-based thesis examines how Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice can help both the process of research and in the development of a work of fiction based on a real past. The creative element of this research is presented as a novel set in sixteenth-century Flanders, which is an ekphrastic interpretation of a painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. The novel has been written in three parts, the first two included in this thesis (approx. 70,000 words).The works of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, a sixteenth-century painter, continues to draw much interest. Yet, as inspiring as his works are, they provide few answers and much contemplation. Understanding life at this time, as material for a novel, is not straightforward.
The critical element of this study draws on the work by French sociologist, anthropologist, philosopher and public intellectual, Pierre Bourdieu, and the application of his tools in the fields of art and creative production. This reflection initially explores a critical analysis of the world of Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and in the second half, discusses the application of Bourdieu’s tools to develop historically authentic characters, settings and plot ideas.
With the completion of the creative and critical elements of this thesis, a research study rooted as much in process as on focused outcome is established. The creative practice is seen to critically inform how an ekphrastic interpretation of a sixteenth-century painting inspired novel is delivered and as such, the thesis introduces an approach that can be applied by other academics and practitioners working within the fields of creative writing and historical fiction.
| Date of Award | 1 May 2021 |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Awarding Institution |
|
| Supervisor | Andrew Melrose (Supervisor) & Mary Chamberlain (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- Creative writing
- Historical fiction
- Pieter Bruegel
- Pierre Bourdieu