Daniel James
Research Project Title:
The Literature of Psychosis: Contemporary Fiction in the Age of Uncertainty
Supervisors:
Dr Lars Iyer and Prof James Annesley
Contact Details:
Email: D.J.Thomson4@ncl.ac.uk
Research Interests:
- Contemporary Fiction and the 21st Century Novel
- Postmodernism
- Creative Writing
- Literary Theory
- Philosophy of Literature
- Autofiction and Experimental Writing
- Journalism
- Literature of Psychosis
- Crime Fiction and Mystery Narratives
- Metaphysical Detective Fiction
- Genre Writing and Subversion
- Effects of Mixed-media and Digital Technology on Storytelling
- Literary Style, Genre and Form
- Relationship between Fact and Fiction/Reality and its Representation, in Contemporary Literature
Brief Outline of Research Project:
My research will explore the impact of ‘psychotic’ events - post-truth politics and fake news, Brexit, COVID-19, and more - on contemporary literature. In particular how the collapsing distinction between fact and fiction, public and private, reality and its representation, is shaping the 21st century novel. This will be documented through a 'hybrid' novel, combining critical and creative elements, with autofiction, digital technologies, and online media. It is my hope that this project will contribute to ongoing debate within the academic field of Creative Writing around the role of critical work in practice-led creative writing research.
- The Unauthorised Biography of Ezra Maas (Dead Ink Books, 2018)
- The Bleed Magazine, Vol.1 #1-3 (2011-2015)
- Shortlisted for The Guardian’s Not The Booker Prize 2019
- Finalist for the UK News Writer of the Year 2005 (Press Gazette Awards)
- Nominated for two North East Press Awards