Reevaluating Biography
Paper
Paper/Presentation Title | Reevaluating Biography |
---|---|
Presentation Type | Paper |
Authors | |
Author | Bedford, Alison |
Editors | Dewhirst, Catherine and Connors, Libby |
Journal or Proceedings Title | 38th Australian Historical Association Conference: Book of Abstracts |
Year | 2019 |
Place of Publication | Toowoomba, Australia |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | https://theaha.org.au/aha-conference-2019-local-communities-global-networks/ |
Conference/Event | 38th Australian Historical Association Conference: Local Communities, Global Networks (AHA 2019) |
Event Details | 38th Australian Historical Association Conference: Local Communities, Global Networks (AHA 2019) Event Date 08 to end of 12 Jul 2019 Event Location Toowoomba, Australia |
Abstract | Biography, history and literature have a sometimes fraught relationship. Hagiography was the norm in earlier historical writing as scholars followed Thomas Carlyle’s conception of the Great Man and lauded the achievements of the European white male. Attention has since turned to a more determinist approach that considers the complex social, economic and political forces that lead to change, with less emphasis on the achievements of the individual. This paper makes a case for a re-examination of the place of biography in historical and literary studies, considering the validity of contextual biography as a methodology. Contextual biography seeks to position their subject within the broader social forces and see them both as 'a product and an agent of their time' (Carr, E.H. 1961). While a number of scholars, particularly in literary studies, have labelled their works as contextual biography, the method remains ill-defined. This paper uses Mary Shelley and her works as a case study to further explore the potential of contextual biography to examine the impact of an individual’s work upon the world. It does so by arguing that Shelley’s life not only influenced her work, but her work in turn established a discourse that had a significant and lasting impact upon both literary and scientific culture and so can offer new insights into the history of Shelley’s era. This paper seeks to start a conversation about the key features of contextual biography and better define the methodology. In doing so, we have an opportunity to reconsider the place of biography in studies of the past and revisit how we see the role of individuals in our understanding of global change and continuity. |
Keywords | biography, history, Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, literature |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 430303. Biography |
470504. British and Irish literature | |
470208. Culture, representation and identity | |
Public Notes | File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Southern Queensland |
Institution of Origin | University of Southern Queensland |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q79qq/reevaluating-biography
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