Why Write in Fragments?Reflections on Urban Expression and its Limits

Why write in fragments of text? What does doing so offer, and what might be its limits and challenges? This paper is based on a talk that I gave to the annual Gregynog Theory School in 2024, in which I explored the potential of writing in fragments. In particular, I reflected on my effort to do so in my book Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Without wishing to be too indulgently self-referential, in this piece I hope to provide some anchor points and signposts for others who might be interested in exploring the option of writing in fragments. I do so by setting out what I mean by ‘fragments’ in the context of the city and how and why I wrote about them in the book, before a longer discussion on different experiments in fragment writing, including the limitations and challenges. Pam ysgrifennu mewn darnau o destun? Beth mae gwneud hynny'n ei gynnig, a beth allai’r cyfyngiadau a'r heriau fod? Mae'r papur hwn yn seiliedig ar gyflwyniad a roddais i'r Ysgol Theori Gregynog blynyddol yn 2024, lle bues i’n trin a thrafod potensial ysgrifennu mewn darnau. Yn benodol, trafodais fy ymdrech i wneud hynny yn fy llyfr, Fragments of the City: Making and Remaking Urban Worlds (McFarlane 2021). Heb hunanfyfyrio’n ormodol, yn y darn hwn rwy'n gobeithio cynnig mannau angori a chyfeiriadau a allai fod â diddordeb i’r sawl sy’n ystyried rhyddiaith ddarniog. Rwy'n gwneud hynny drwy nodi beth rwy'n ei olygu wrth 'ddarnau' yng nghyd-destun y ddinas a sut a pham ysgrifennais amdanyn nhw yn fy llyfr. Yna, byddaf yn trafod yn ehangach ar wahanol arbrofion mewn rhyddiaith ddarniog, gan gynnwys y cyfyngiadau a'r heriau sy’n codi.