Suicide Note Writing Workshop
Taught by Simon Critchley, who explains that he intends it partially to be "a way of mocking creative-writing workshops." Full article at the New York Times:
With Mr. Critchley kneeling before a blackboard on Saturday and his 15 attendees gathered tightly around, class began with a discussion of the shifting ethics of suicide, from antiquity to modern-day Christianity to right-to-die debates in the news media.
The suicide note, which he identified as a literary genre with a unique form, is a fairly recent invention coinciding with the rise of literacy and the press, he told the class.
“In antiquity, there was no need to leave a note,” he said. "It would have been obvious why you killed yourself."
The suicide note, which he identified as a literary genre with a unique form, is a fairly recent invention coinciding with the rise of literacy and the press, he told the class.
“In antiquity, there was no need to leave a note,” he said. "It would have been obvious why you killed yourself."
Comments
How much of a 'literary genre' can this be if none of them ever get published?
Posted by tadchem on 05/20/13 at 08:42 AM
This subject is just hanging around for a chance to be carried into the curriculum if it can be borne.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 05/20/13 at 09:34 AM
OMG!! Hilarious post and delicious comments. 😊
So back in the day, when your life sucked -- everyone knew why. Ha ha ha ha ha
In our modern world we suffer in silence (???) Really??
Is the suicide note a valid form of self-expression? Is it "art"?
Oh. My. God.
So back in the day, when your life sucked -- everyone knew why. Ha ha ha ha ha
In our modern world we suffer in silence (???) Really??
Is the suicide note a valid form of self-expression? Is it "art"?
Oh. My. God.
Posted by girlgeniusNYC on 05/20/13 at 12:55 PM
What a killer subject. I was hanging on every word. This is just to die for. It takes my breathe away. Ahhhh shoot .. nevermind. 🐛 :grrr:
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 05/20/13 at 03:57 PM
"Dear loved ones, I'm sorry. Love XXXXX"
I can't see too much literary effort in that. Anything longer and it wounds like the subject is trying to talk themselves out of the act.
I can't see too much literary effort in that. Anything longer and it wounds like the subject is trying to talk themselves out of the act.
Posted by KDP on 05/20/13 at 04:05 PM
Didn't Samurai write death poems before ritual suicide?
Posted by Fluffy Bunny Slippers on 05/21/13 at 08:40 AM
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Category: Death | Suicide | Literature