Franchissement is a term Michel Foucault used in ‘What is Enlightenment?’, an essay concerned with knowledge, knowing and the concept of critique. In English translation, ‘franchissement’ was translated as ‘transgression’, sparking debates among translators and critics who argued that this move obscured important differences between Foucault’s earlier and later approaches. Because ‘What is Enlightenment?’ was among Foucault’s last writings before his death in 1984, some critics also suggest ‘franchissement’ as signifying a germinal concept Foucault would, given more time, have developed. In this article, I take up these suggestions from a poet’s point of view, arguing that there are major benefits to be gained by raising the question, ‘what is franchissement?’ in the academic field of creative writing, particularly with regards to poetry. Observing the importance multiple creative writing researchers ascribe Foucault’s concept of critique, and treating franchissement as a process through which more becomes known, I propose that the word ‘franchissement’, loaned into English, could enrich ongoing critical inquiries regarding relationships between poetry and knowledge.
Keywords: Creative writing – Foucault – franchissement – transgression – messy translation
