What makes a memoir ‘true’? Why do we look to fiction for facts? How does autofiction destabilise the very notion of a true story? Is any of this important now? I made a series for the BBC asking all these questions. Whose truth is it anyway? www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... - ThreadSky

damianbarr.bsky.social • 98 days ago

What makes a memoir ‘true’? Why do we look to fiction for facts? How does autofiction destabilise the very notion of a true story? Is any of this important now?

I made a series for the BBC asking all these questions. Whose truth is it anyway?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001m4qc

Comments

lilydunn.bsky.social•98 days ago

I loved this... you just reminded me!

linelangebek.bsky.social•98 days ago

This sounds right up my alley! 🙏

arnoldtfanning.bsky.social•97 days ago

Look forward to listening, as a writer and facilitator of Memoir and Creative Non-Fiction!

damianbarr.bsky.social•97 days ago

Hope it’s useful!

mariephillips.bsky.social•97 days ago

I will be listening, but I’d say framing is everything (Elizabeth McCracken’s The Hero of this Story is great for this)

damianbarr.bsky.social•97 days ago

Yes I think setting those expectations is key.

mariephillips.bsky.social•97 days ago

📌

damianbarr.bsky.social•97 days ago

Thanks’

tommyreckless.bsky.social•97 days ago

Just listened. Fascinating stuff. I'm currently grappling with A Reckless History Of The 21st Century where I'm trying to crash Finnegans Wake into Roger's Profanisaurus to chronicle the bizarre last 25 years of the Daily Reckless. Writer/reader? Joyce just wasn't that into you and Viz don't care.

damianbarr.bsky.social•96 days ago

I’m glad it was helpful! Joyce was sadly unavailable for interview ;)

deafldgirl.bsky.social•97 days ago

📌

damianbarr.bsky.social•97 days ago

helenjerome.bsky.social•98 days ago

Best memoir I read was by PD James, and I interviewed her about it in her Southwold cottage by the sea. She kept the focus on a precise period of her life in the memoir, but allowed it to reveal other telling moments. Quite a character. Her only fault was being unable to make a decent cup of coffee.

damianbarr.bsky.social•98 days ago

We are none of us perfect ;) That interview sounds like setup for a crime novel!

michellegarrett.bsky.social•98 days ago

I've long wondered about this. Will watch and learn!

blokman.bsky.social•97 days ago

this reminds me i need to get a hold of my great uncle's unpublished memoirs of his time as a PoW, spent the entirety of ww2 in a nazi prison camp and noted how utterly boring it was!
Will give this a listen for sure 👍

sensiblecat.bsky.social•98 days ago

Looks Interesting!

jsbaker.co.uk•97 days ago

Aah, great to hear Damian — will be tuning in, defo. I looked at this dimension, fiction and history’s codependency, for my PhD work, so I’ll really enjoy listening to your insights and reflections on this with great relish.

jsbaker.co.uk•97 days ago

And I can’t believe I didn’t know about this already — broadcast in 2023! Jeez.

damianbarr.bsky.social•97 days ago

Well I hope it’s helpful! Glad I reshared now

jsbaker.co.uk•97 days ago

Yes, definitely! Big thanks.

spottedpen.bsky.social•98 days ago

My MFA is in nonfiction. I write mostly essay, but I remember long discussions in grad school about absolute truth in our writing, but I have always found certain types of fiction were more honest emotionally.

damianbarr.bsky.social•98 days ago

Same! Making this show raised lots of same questions for me. Ones I wish I’d been able to discuss before writing memoir or novel. Hope the series is helpful

americanmuskrat.bsky.social•98 days ago

Look how much damage Roots has done to the African American community. People still think that's an accurate portrayal of history even today!

eanstruther.bsky.social•98 days ago

I experienced exactly this with both my debut 5yrs ago, & the publication of my memoir this summer; whose truth is it anyway? It’s a thorny subject, rich with complexity. I’ll tune in with interest.

damianbarr.bsky.social•98 days ago

Hope you find it helpful. 🖊️