Seven Mile Sand: Blackpool and the Edges of Northern Fiction

In recent years there has been a widening of the scholarship in representations of the north of England in film, television and literature. This movement has been focused on a desire to go beyond the stereotypical, social-realist presentations of the north and to encapsulate the diversity of the region, and all of its different identities that are not the prevalent post-industrial landscape with adjacent moorland. This widening has also come at a time when there has been a renewed interest in Blackpool, both in the national press beginning around the 2016 referendum charting the difficulties the town faces, and in its position within modern popular culture. This thesis then uses Blackpool to examine the possibilities that exist for representations of the north beyond the dominant forms and narratives. It analyses films, television dramas and prose texts set within Blackpool, examining how they use the space and engage with the social realities of the town, and whether they draw on, or contradict, any of the pervasive place-myths. As the thesis undertakes a creative-critical practice as research methodology, this work culminates in a novel set within Blackpool. This creative piece aims to fill the gaps found in the textual analysis, such as the prevalence of tourist-focused stories within Blackpool, and a lack of engagement with the town beyond its holiday resort landmarks. Ultimately, this thesis aims to reposition Blackpool in the cultural and literary imagination, whilst also showcasing how representations of the north can be widened using more surreal elements or the use of specific settings that fall under different place identities. However, it also highlights the dangers that could accompany such action, namely forcing an outside perspective, or purpose, upon the text which would come at the expense of a dialogue with the setting, taking away any voice it may possess