Exploring Autobiography as an Orphan Form: The Loneliness of Self-Reflection

Summary

The article explores the nature of autobiography and memoir, beginning with John Berger's observation that autobiography is an "orphan form" born from loneliness. It examines the inherent separation between the self as subject and author when writing about one's own life, and how artists approach the project of remembrance. The piece delves into the philosophical and emotional dimensions of writing about oneself, the gap between past and present selves, and the honesty required to describe lived experiences with perspective.