‘Back to Life, Back to Reality’From the Game of Academia to the Risk of Creative-Critical Writing

Abstract

The piece below, the title of which is taken from the 1989 song by Soul II Soul, is concerned with the theory and practice of writing as risk. To take risks, one needs courage. And courage often needs the encouragement of others. Not only this piece, but the whole turn in my work towards new forms of riskier and more creative writing that seek, through play, to transgress the boundaries of academic activity as mere play – none of this would have been possible without the example of risk-taking and experiment that Tim has set, without the intellectual challenges that he has provided, and without his encouragement that has been persistent, patient and kind.