McFarlane, Colin
2025.
Why write in fragments? Reflections on urban expression and its limits.
Agoriad
2
(1)
10.18573/agoriad.51
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Abstract
Why write in fragments of text? What does doing so offer, and what might be its limits and challenges? This paper is based on a talk that I gave to the annual Gregynog Theory School in 2024, in which I explored the potential of writing in fragments. In particular, I reflected on my effort to do so in my book Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Without wishing to be too indulgently self-referential, in this piece I hope to provide some anchor points and signposts for others who might be interested in exploring the option of writing in fragments. I do so by setting out what I mean by ‘fragments’ in the context of the city and how and why I wrote about them in the book, before a longer discussion on different experiments in fragment writing, including the limitations and challenges. Pam ysgrifennu mewn darnau o destun? Beth mae gwneud hynny'n ei gynnig, a beth allai’r cyfyngiadau a'r heriau fod? Mae'r papur hwn yn seiliedig ar gyflwyniad a roddais i'r Ysgol Theori Gregynog blynyddol yn 2024, lle bues i’n trin a thrafod potensial ysgrifennu mewn darnau. Yn benodol, trafodais fy ymdrech i wneud hynny yn fy llyfr, Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Heb hunanfyfyrio’n ormodol, yn y darn hwn rwy'n gobeithio cynnig mannau angori a chyfeiriadau a allai fod â diddordeb i’r sawl sy’n ystyried rhyddiaith ddarniog. Rwy'n gwneud hynny drwy nodi beth rwy'n ei olygu wrth 'ddarnau' yng nghyd-destun y ddinas a sut a pham ysgrifennais amdanyn nhw yn fy llyfr. Yna, byddaf yn trafod yn ehangach ar wahanol arbrofion mewn rhyddiaith ddarniog, gan gynnwys y cyfyngiadau a'r heriau sy’n codi.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General) |
| Publisher: | Cardiff University Press |
| ISSN: | 2976-8578 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 9 December 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 23 September 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 09 Dec 2025 14:40 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183055 |
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