constantly revised and re-contextualised. Later in the 19th century, vignettes in newspapers declined in use and popularity. This was due to journalism becoming more realistic and fact based. The decline of vignettes also reflected a broader shift in society towards scientific theories and realism. Journalism and literature separated into different, distinct branches of writing, until literary journalism emerged in the late 19th century. Aside from journalism, vignettes in the form of the “literary sketch” became popularised in the Victorian era by authors such as William Makepeace Thackeray and Charles Dickens, and their works would often appear in newspapers and magazines. Works such as Sketches by Boz by Charles Dickens, and Thackeray’s Vanity Fair: Pen and Pencil Sketches of English Society, drew heavily from the original definition of a sketch in the visual arts by creating a sense of spontaneity, freedom and authenticity. These sketches sometimes included visual illustrations by George Cruikshank, and were viewed as rough drafts rather than complete works of literature - a necessary step towards creating a finished work, but not inferior to a finished work. The fragmentary and immediate style of these vignettes reflected the 19th century’s sense of economic and social instability, and the rapid pace of urban life. Dickens’ sketches often described brief and immediate scenes of everyday life. The sketches represented a smaller part of a larger story and conveyed themes relevant to the Victorian Era such as social class, work and money. The use of common themes across different vignettes provides each story with an additional dimension of depth. Due to the rise of post-modern and experimental literature after World War 2, attributes of vignettes resurfaced in popularity. Post-modern literature rejects the conventional “novel” structure and notions of a chronological plot and character development. Techniques in postmodern literature such as minimalistic, “slice of life” stories and fragmentation became popular, which are also key characteristics of vignettes. Vignettes also emerged in other forms of media such as postmodern theatre, which does not adhere to a fixed structure, style or genre. Style Vignettes are written in a brief, concise style. They are rich in imagery to create a vivid, detailed description of a moment in time and a character’s immediate experiences. While short stories and flash fiction are complete works that follow a narrative structure of beginning, middle and end, vignettes do not follow this traditional narrative structure. A vignette contains less action and