“Cataloguing as an Artistic Practice” — the second session of the course “Theory and Practice of Experimental Writing. Block II”

“Cataloguing as an Artistic Practice” — the second session of the course “Theory and Practice of Experimental Writing. Block II”

The content of a text and its form can exist in different relationships, yet often it is the content that determines the form. In this session, we will try the opposite strategy: we will explore how the form of a text can shape its content. Using Jorge Luis Borges’ essay “The Analytical Language of John Wilkins” and Lydia Zinovieva-Annibal’s “The Tragic Bestiary” as examples, we will examine the catalogue as a literary form and discuss how this type of narration differs from classical storytelling.

As a creative writing practice, participants will create their own catalogues (a catalogue may be a photo album, a collection of figurines, or even writing tools). Within one or several items from the list, we will attempt to tell a short story, write a sketch, or create a small exposition.