Lillian Pearce
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Research Mentor(s): Khaled Mattawa, William Wilhartz Endowed Professor of English Language and Literature
Research Mentor School/College/Department: English Language & Literature, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 1 (10am-10:50am)
Breakout Room: Room 1
Presenter: 6
Abstract
In its 61st addition, The Michigan Quarterly Review is publishing a special edition issue of their literary journal focused on the 1947 Orwellian prompt “Why I Write.” Though writers across generations have answered this question, MQR is seeking new perspectives from both established, emerging and beginner writers, in hopes of publishing a journal dedicated to discussing “why they write” with reference to four distinct motivations: egotistical, aesthetic, historical and political. Given the current movement, MQR is interested in the latter two categories and how writers use their work as a way to provoke social change. As part of this issue, a corresponding online series will be published that focuses on individual writers and contributors to the issue. To achieve this goal, interviews will be held with several contributors, varying across discipline, genre, age and background, that highlight their motivations for writing and the ways in which it connects back to George Orwell’s original statements, as well as social and political movements and change. The expected result is that writing uncovers distinct motivations for each contributor, though they are expected to diverge from each other and be as unique as the perspective that each writer brings about in their piece. These interviews add nuance to the motivations of writing and will help readers understand how writing can be an important tool for social and political change.
Authors: Khaled Mattawa, Lillian Pearce
Research Method: Qualitative Study
https://sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/
