Of Strange Loops and Real Effects: Five Theses on Autofiction/the Autofictional

Abstract

This chapter explores the advantages of understanding the autofictional as a flexible matrix with scalable parameters. It puts forward five theses: (1) The fact that so many scholars have tried to work with the term “autofiction” indicates an obvious need for the “autofictional” to grasp what is vibrant between life and text. (2) The autofictional is a scalable and latent dimension in all autobiographical writing. Therefore, autofiction is not a separate genre in addition to autobiography and the novel. (3) Imagination and the use of the supernatural may support autobiographical reference. (4) Autofiction produces real-life effects. (5) Autofiction oscillates between fictionality and factuality. Although it brings one or other aspect to the foreground, all of them persist and continue to, more or less, resonate together.