In Defense of Clichés: Life Writing as Iteration and Interrogation

  • Carl Leggo University of British Columbia
Keywords: life writing, poetry, stories, clichés, teaching writing

Abstract

For over 30 years I have been committed to theorizing, interrogating, and practicing life writing as an academic, pedagogical, and curricular discipline. In my life writing I often write what one reviewer called “clichés of the heart.” I wonder what is wrong with clichés. Why are so many people so ready to criticize others for clichés? In an effort to address these kinds of concerns and questions, I offer 13 poetic, narrative, and citational ruminations in defense of clichés. I am eager to understand how clichés are connected to writing about life and learning how to live informed by writing.

Published
2018-07-04
How to Cite
Leggo, C. (2018). In Defense of Clichés: Life Writing as Iteration and Interrogation. LEARNing Landscapes, 11(2), 241-256. https://doi.org/10.36510/learnland.v11i2.960