Seventeenth International Conference on the Arts in Society

Abstract

Heterotopias – places and spaces that evoke a sense of otherness – encompass visual narratives that can be described as disturbing, intense, incompatible, contradictory and/or transforming. These ephemeral qualities, which are unique to each heterotopic place, are influenced by past and present connections to cultural, social, economic and/or historic events. For example, the sombre events that contribute to the unnerving atmosphere of a cemetery contrast with those that inform the utilitarian ambience of a boarding school. These intangible, and often transitory, visual narratives can be challenging for writers to successfully translate into written prose. This paper outlines techniques designed to assist writers crafting action writing, comparative writing, and description as they recreate the visual awe of heterotopic spaces for written texts.