Life writing had entered formally intoliterary genre in the 18th century with the Life of Samuel Johnson by James Boswell but its earliest traces are as old as Plutarch’s writings on emperor Alexander. Biographies intend to focus on larger-than-life/ eminent personalities with an intention to narrate with ideological presuppositions and an appearance of universal truth. Being in a monologic discourse the character seeks a sense of continuity between past and present. Though distinct,history and biography share a relation; in fact, a lot of history we know might be through biographic writings (ex. the Akbarnama),which put biographic narratives into scrutinizing its authenticity and fundamental truths. This area of cultural mythology expanded with the Hollywood studio biopics which were instrumental in fabricating icon memories of heroes with patriotic sensibilities and later on producing unique and non-linear biopics.
To read more, subscribe to our magazine.
