Autobiographical narration is a form of expression that is thematically orientated towards the self and self-disclosure and can be viewed as a technique not only of self portrayal but also self-assurance. Autobiography was once seen to be the discipline of renowned men who recounted the achievements and course of their lives; however recent discourse and treatment of the genre has centred on the potential for a fluid relationship between fact and fiction, concepts of multiple selves, and enquiry into the broad social importance and potential of the genre itself. Feminist counter theories and the differing approaches and perspectives of contemporary artists are considered within the context of an expanded interpretation of autobiography. / Autobiography in art reveals a number of features in common with literary autobiography and this study moves freely between both literary genre theory and contemporary visual art theory. These theories include consideration of aspects of narcissism, gender, nostalgia, confession, truth, metaphor, imagination, memory, fiction, therapy, and critical distance, and historical perspectives and philosophical questions concerned with the self and subjectivity. / In the visual arts autobiography is also considered through 'expression theory', which focuses on the expression of emotion in art. This section acknowledges the use of emotion within my own work and also draws upon (without specific reference to), the current prevalence of emotive expression in the contemporary music scene, a trend expressed as 'emo'. In this essay emotion is discussed both within and outside a visual art context (including a brief historical perspective informed by the philosophy of R.G.Collingwood). / A specific focus on metaphor and critical distance through contemporary feminist perspectives and opposing long-established concepts of metaphor are discussed with reference to specific artists and cultural theorists. / This research concludes with a specific focus both on my own work and the art works of other artists who, with various and divergent approaches, use emotive and autobiographical methodology within their work / Thesis (MVisualArts)--University of South Australia, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/267472 |
| Creators | Nikou, Michelle. |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | copyright under review |
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