Continuing Bonds: Creative Dissemination

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

We do not speak of the dead often enough: we lack the language, the opportunity, the encouragement, and someone to listen. Even amongst professional end-of-life care givers, this can create problems and frustrations. Yet the past provides us with rich stories of how people throughout time have mourned, remembered and grieved; exposure to these examples encourages conversations around these topics, enabling a 'safe' way in to discuss difficult topics of mortality and loss. These were some of the key findings from the AHRC-funded 'Continuing Bonds: Exploring the meaning and legacy of death through past and contemporary practice' (CB) project, which has investigated the value and contribution of archaeology to end-of-life care. This follow-on project brings the stories, narratives, themes and experiences espoused in the CB findings, as well as inspiring archaeological/ethnographic materials, to wider audiences. Involving creative writers and the general public, four activities are proposed: 1. A series of creative writing workshops 2. Collation and dissemination of an anthology 3. Celebration reading events 4. Development of a free resource pack Stories told in the original Continuing Bonds study, as well as archaeological/ethnographic materials, will be used to inspire participants' creative writing, as well as normalise facets of death, dying and bereavement (DDB). These materials will focus on a range of stories, narratives, themes (such as memorialisation and legacy, ethics, and treatment of the dead), experiences and objects. The workshops will provide a safe space for individuals to talk about DDB, to engage with others' stories and experiences about these and to engage with case studies about DDB from the past. Participants will be asked to produce pieces of creative writing, such as short stories, flash fiction (short fictional work which still offers character and plot development) and poetry. By engaging individuals in these topics through the medium of writing, it is likely that a wider understanding of DDB will emerge, with DDB thoughts, behaviours and practices being validated and normalised. These impacts will continue through the anthology and the celebration reading events. The anthology will include approximately 45 pieces. These will have been developed through the creative writing workshops. This will be free to access and hosted online. Free print copies will also be made available for contributors, their friends/family and other interested parties. The celebration events will welcome all who have attended the workshops, submitted to the anthology, and the general public. The aim is for participants to showcase their pieces. This will provide a valuable reflective opportunity for those involved and enables members of different writing communities to join together. It is hoped that this will form the basis of ongoing informal networks among participants. The resource pack will enable workshop materials to be used by others, free of charge, enabling further impact beyond the life of the project. The project will run for 9 months, which allows for the adequate preparation of materials, recruitment, facilitation of workshops, feedback to contributors, advertising for and holding the celebration events, correlation of resource pack and evaluation. We anticipate that participants will be attracted by the unique inspiration provided by the archaeological materials and related participant accounts, as well as the opportunity to network with other writers and to showcase and receive feedback on their work. Overall, the Creative Dissemination proposal takes the success of the original CBs project and extends this to new audiences, using the medium of creative writing.