Interdisciplinary Arts 0307 - Art and the Political Imagination: An Advanced Writing Workshop

This is an advanced hybrid literature and creative writing workshop. We will read writers who, through their art, have interrogated the nature of justice, pushed boundaries of inclusion, and highlighted lives that are written out of history, story, and memory--and are still written out today--both inside and outside the United States, and in many different contexts. For instance, in the context of those profiled for their race, religion, caste, sexual orientation, gender identity, or physical ability. Those dislocated by wars, colonialism, climate change, and poverty. Or those struggling to enter a groundbreaking career. Among the course goals is a celebration of the power of art and the political imagination to forge vital connections across cultures, while respecting the specificity of context. Course requirements will include critical reading and your own creative writing. Div III students are invited to bring their final projects, provided this intersects in some way with the course material. There will be a high emphasis on regular attendance, participation, and a commitment to peer work. Possible reading will include works by: Claudia Rankine, Tommy Orange, Octavia Butler, Nam Le, Betool Khedairi, Solmaz Sharif, Arundhati Roy, Jennifer Finney Boylan, and many more. Please note: While the course is not by instructor permission, in order to keep up with course requirements, students must attend the first day in order to keep their seat.(keywords: creative writing, political, social justice)

In/Justice This course is fully remote. Students in this course can expect to spend 6 to 8 hours weekly on work and preparation outside of class time. This time includes but is not limited to reading, writing, drawing, as well as preparation of in-class presentations.