Are we allowed to use fictional vignettes in cultural geographies?. (April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rabbiosi, Chiara; Vanolo, Alberto
• Is Part Of: Cultural geographies. Volume 24:Number 2(2017)
• Page Start: 265
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2017-04
• Subjects: autobiography -- autoethnography -- creative methodologies -- ethnofiction -- fictional story -- fictional vignettes -- invented stories; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Human geography -- Periodicals; 304.23
• DOI: 10.1177/1474474016673064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-4740

Abstract

Fictional vignettes are narrative texts that academic researchers may invent in order to illustrate arguments or to present their research outcomes; they are stories or situations that do not strictly report factual realities observed by the author, but that, in any case, implement the heuristics for the arguments that the author wants to raise. Although there are several works in social sciences taking advantage of fictional narratives, geographers have started mobilising invented stories in their writings mostly recently, provided that a variety of creative methodologies had been introduced. The aim of this article is to present fictional vignettes as an integrative research method and writing technique, while discussing potential opportunities and limits relating to their use in geographical research, particularly within the recent rise of various 'creative methodologies' in cultural geographies.