Loss and the archive: a creative and critical exploration

Sadler, Catherine

Abstract

This thesis is a creative and critical exploration of loss and the archive. It uses modern and contemporary theories of loss and poetics to argue that the challenge for language in response to loss is to try and work out what can be effectively said. In doing so, it examines a variety of cultural depictions and responses to loss, including work by contemporary poets Denise Riley and Sophie Robinson, and proposes some key ideas around loss that view it as a site of production. The thesis also investigates concepts of the archive and its relationship to loss. It shows how artists and writers use the archive, discussing in particular the work of artist Tacita Dean and poet Holly Pester. Presented alongside this critical work is a collection of poetry, Starting Point.

Citation

Sadler, C. Loss and the archive: a creative and critical exploration. (Thesis). University of Hull. https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4223975

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Feb 21, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: May 3, 2023
• Keywords: English
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4223975
• Additional Information: Department of English, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Dec 1, 2019