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Of course I have to write about Janet Miller! I was first introduced to her in Dr. Ming Fang He's class last summer. It was very surprising to me that I had not known about her after taking several semesters of curriculum studies course work. I really do think her work should be emphasized more. I have interviewed her twice for doctoral courses and everytime I admire her more.

This paper is over 20 years old, but still worth the read. Miller (2000) discusses the positive attributes of memoir in curriculum studies as  a method of discussing over time "what counts as curriculum research and theorizing and their relationships to practice" (Miller, 2000. p. 253).

You can read it here.

I also wrote a paper about her last year. You can read it here. It's very interesting!

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Summary of The scholarly exegesis as a memoir

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Summary of The scholarly exegesis as a memoir

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The 'why' behind our writing is a very good question. In this editorial Bacon (2017) describes the exegesis, considered the primary interpretation of the text, in this case, of a memoir.

"There is power in memoir writing. Unlike fiction, the memoir is a form of personal writing that draws from fact" (Bacon, 2017, p. 388).

He also interrogates practice-led research describing the act of memoir writing. The author of this 'study' must "be able to demonstrate rigour and validity, where the duration of the research and the consolidated body of knowledge arising out of it become practicable elements of substantiation" (Bacon, 2017, p. 390).

The editorial is interesting in that it elucidates as an exegesis, the written record of the artist's process of memoir writing.

You can read the editorial here.

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Summary of Writing autobiography to develop Culturally Responsive Competency

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Summary of Writing autobiography to develop Culturally Responsive Competency

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This paper describes a qualitative study of elementary school teachers and pre-service teachers finding how their biographical information led to connections with Culturally Responsive Competency (CRC), teaching aligned with social justice principles.

CRC is discussed with a lament of the lack of guidance on the best ways to implement CRC.

Bersch wrote, "For over a decade teaching teachers in the United States, I have extended writing autobiographies as a learning tool for my students and found it had a powerful value in delving into their life histories" (2018, p. 33).

Bersch found that the reflexity developed through the process helped the subjects become more culturally responsive teachers.

You can read the article here.

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Summary of Teacher Education in Memory’s Light and Shadow: Autobiographical Reflection and Multimodalities of Remembering and Forgetting

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Summary of Teacher Education in Memory’s Light and Shadow: Autobiographical Reflection and Multimodalities of Remembering and Forgetting

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This article is unique in that it discusses the actual process of remembering and the flaws of memory, and the spaces created by it, as one attempts autobiographical writing.

In the author's mind, as cited from Kristeva, 2000, p. 66, the space created by the act of forgetting could represent “an unconscious Other ... that inhabits us”. Lewkowich considers this important as autobiographical reflection is often accentuated in teacher education training but he also "encourages students to merge the genres of autobiography and fiction, hoping that such an experimental gesture will encourage them to treat their histories and identities as speculative and tentative constructs" (Lewkowich, 2016, p. 577).

"I begin by looking to theories of autobiography, memory, and forgetting (with a particular emphasis on teacher education), and I then look closely at a number of psychoanalytic considerations of the mind and its inner workings, which conceptualize forgetting and remembering as in a psychically productive, dialectical relationship ... " (Lewkowich, 2016, p. 575).

An interesting article that provides a differing view of misremembering in autobiographical writing.

You can read it here.

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It was hard for me to find journal articles that really offer me advice on writing my dissertation as a memoir. I found one that was an actual narrative study. Two are from peer reviewed writing journals but they described and reinforced advice that had been given to me by two esteemed professors. Several others cover a range of subjects that apply to autobiographical writing in general and some specifically about education. Hope they all count!

I also am including a chapter about my life as a musician that was made into a dull class paper by constantly being interrupted by the over 30 required citations. Hope you can wade through the nagging disruptions. There are a lot of old band photos and links to my music in it so I thought you might enjoy it.

You can read it here.

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Linda Ronstadt "Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir"

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Linda Ronstadt "Simple Dreams: A Musical Memoir"

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As a once semi-famous musician, I want to include music in my memoir. Here is a video of Ronstadt describing how she wrote her memoir. You can watch it here.

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Summary of "Creative Transcendence: Memoir Writing For Transformation and Empowerment"

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Summary of "Creative Transcendence: Memoir Writing For Transformation and Empowerment"

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Diana Raab, Ph.D. wrote an article for The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, (2014, Vol. 46, No. 2, pp. 187-207). In it she sought to study the relevance of writing a memoir as a transpersonal practice.

What is transpersonal?  Transpersonal is a strand of psychology and social work which focuses on empowering persons based on spiritual experiences, personal transformation and health.

Raab conducted a narrative research study based on multiple interactions and types of communication (including face-to-face via Skype) with five esteemed writers. She included herself as a memorist and researcher and shared her own pivotal experiences that led to the writing of her two memoirs

The main research question addressed in this study was: What are the transformative dynamics of writing a memoir elicited by a pivotal or transcendent experience?

Raab’s study was informed by Abraham Maslow’s theory of creativity and metamotivation. Metamotivation is what Maslow considers creativity that arises from being motivated by a higher level of growth as opposed to creativity that arises to fill a gap due to an unmet primary need.

The final participant profile included those of age range between 35 and 75, three females and two males.

All participants had transcendent or pivotal experiences and most said they had been transformed and empowered by writing a memoir.

This research is relevant to my own thoughts regarding using memoir as my dissertation.

Here is the article.

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Graham Nash "Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life"

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Graham Nash "Wild Tales: A Rock & Roll Life"

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Graham Nash discusses his honest memoir. He was a hero of mine and I was interested in the writing. You can watch the video here.

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This is a wonderful book by Jay Parini about his time as a graduate student in Scotland trying to avoid the Vietnam War. There, through very Alice in Wonderland-type moments, he meets the elderly and blind Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges who serendipitously accompanies Parini on a trip through the Scottish highlands. Wonderment awaits the two.

I personally developed an email friendship with Parini after reading this book. You can read a detailed review of the book here

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Maya Angelou Wrote 7 Memoirs/Autobiographies

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Maya Angelou Wrote 7 Memoirs/Autobiographies

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Maya Angelou discusses her most recent autobiography in 2013. She died in 2014. You can watch the video here

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I am experimenting with examining my life, with charting the course
of my feelings, with giving my work purpose and direction, through
remembering where I have been. . . .
(Louise DeSalvo, Vertigo, p. 4).
DeSalvo uses essays she has previously written and revised them to become her memoir. You can read the book here.

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A Conversation with Gloria Steinem and bell hooks

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A Conversation with Gloria Steinem and bell hooks

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Although the sound quality on this video leaves much to be desired, Gloria Steinem being interviewed by bell hooks about Steinem's memoir My Life on the Road is not to be missed! You can watch it here.

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I am thinking about writing a memoir for my dissertation. So, I am posting some examples of dissertations, articles, books and videos that are relevant (and that I like) on this Padlet. I put links at the end of each post so you'll read my whole post through before clicking! 😎

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A graphic novel is an interesting thing. Dr. John Weaver thinks I should experiment with different forms of writing. I'm not sure I could ever write a memoir as a graphic novel since I can barely hold a pen due to my stroke, but I would like to try.  Povinelli writes about her Italian heritage as seen through a map. You can read more about it here

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Summary of "Selling Out in the Writing of Memoir"

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Summary of "Selling Out in the Writing of Memoir"

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In 2012, author Martin Lee presented at the Associated Writing Programs Conference in Chicago as part of the panel “Selling Out Everyone You Love: The Ethics of Writing Nonfiction.”  This article is his presentation which was published in River Teeth (2012) Vol. 14 issue 1, pp. 121-127.

In his article, Lee described how he went from being a fiction writer to a memoirist.

His aunt told him the story of how his father lost his hands in a farming accident years ago before Lee was born. He had never heard the tale before. After learning of the incident, Lee used that information in a short story he wrote that was published in an East Coast tourist magazine. Lo and behold, his Illinois-based aunt heard about the story from a friend visiting the East Coast and was quite angry as a result.

Fortunately, Lee was able to reconcile with his aunt years later.  But that story put him on the path of memoir writing.

Lee opens up about what he calls “selling out” when writing a memoir. You use every tool you can find to write your life story as you remember it. But while doing so, you have to open yourself up and can’t be afraid to tell the uncomfortable details, the dirty laundry, the whole story. You can’t be afraid of what your readers might think as a result. That’s what makes a memoir good.

When I discussed memoir writing with two of my professors, they agreed with Lee’s concept. Dr. Weaver said, "If they don't like your memoir, they can write their own." Both my professors cautioned that were I to write my memoir, I would have to prepare myself to go all the way. Be uncomfortable. To “sell myself out”.

Lee was telling the truth about writing a good memoir.

You can read the whole article here.

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Summary of Edward Said and AutoBioGraphy

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Summary of Edward Said and AutoBioGraphy

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This paper discusses Said's memoir published four years before his death. The essay tries to promote a phenomenological approach rather than a literal reading of Said's memoir.

"Said rather traces, the contours of an entanglement of historical and political circumstance and personal plight" (Nikro, 2019, p. 430).

You can read the paper here.

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Summary of "Writing Literary Memoir: Are We Obliged to Tell the Real Truth?

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Summary of "Writing Literary Memoir: Are We Obliged to Tell the Real Truth?

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In 2001, Michael Steinberg published an essay in Writing on the Edge, Vol. 12, No. 1, on pages 15-20. In that essay, Steinberg described when, at a writing conference, he read from one of his published memoir essays about his troubled relationship with his high school coach and an incident that occurred when the two first met.

The description and dialog Steinberg included in the memoir was vivid and detailed. Really, an author’s memory made to be as impactful as a novel. The audience questioned if the event really happened that way. Had Steinberg told the truth?

Steinberg tells us that these questions go right to the heart of memoir writing. It’s not as if you are writing a news story with detailed facts. You are writing your story as you remember it. But the story has to read well and encourage the reader’s interest. It has to ring true to you personally as the writer. As Steinberg says, “A writer who positions herself as a witness-interpreter will see a reality different from that of a writer who places himself at the center of his own story” (Steinberg, 2001, p. 16).

A memoir is very different from a biography. Memories change over time. And how the writer remembers the past, and if the writer is good at their craft, the story becomes readable and entertaining.

That’s what I hope to do someday.

Read the article here.

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Summary of Catharsis of Confessional Writing

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Summary of Catharsis of Confessional Writing

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This paper describes the confessional writing style and studies the confessional writing of Sylvia Plath and Kamala Das. Their works My Story and The Bell Jar are used as the basis for understanding their lives from their own perspective.

"Everyone has their flaws and scars which nobody is comfortable admitting about, but when somebody takes the initiative, it gives strength for others to voice and come forward to end the injustice " (Ahim, 2021, p. 90).

You can read the paper here.

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Summary of The 'I' before the 'Thou' before the 'It': autobiography, conversation, and curriculum

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Summary of The 'I' before the 'Thou' before the 'It': autobiography, conversation, and curriculum

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Since we are studying about curriculum theory, I thought I should really try to find some from "official" curriculum studies journals. :)

In her review essay, Kris Sloan discusses the book Teacher Education and the Cultural Imagination: Autobiography, Conversation, and Narrative by Susan Florio-Ruane and J. DeTar and how the reading suggests help for pre-service teachers. Such guided opportunities would "help them develop insights about the ways US education has been 'whitened' by a profession dominated by white educators" (Sloan, 2004, p. 118).

The bulk of the writing focuses and opportunities for teacher reflexivity and suggestions from Florio-Ruane and DeTar of six ethnic autobiographies as options for those guided opportunities.

"While the reading of such texts by teachers is a way for them to learn about the lived-experiences of persons whose backgrounds are different from their own, the real power of such texts lies in their potential to foster reflexivity about teachers' own cultural identities" (Sloan, 2004, p. 119).

You can read the article here.