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“In the face of the current political reality, many of us want to raise our voices in a way that is not just enraged or pedantic but also artful,” says instructor Alison Luterman. “We, too, want to read works of literature that speak to us in our hour of need, that guide us through our own roiling emotions and the chaos in our political landscape.”
This five-week class will provide a vibrant and encouraging space for you to raise your voice and savor writing that, as Kafka says, “cracks the frozen sea within us.” You will explore several key elements in the art of resistance writing, including radical empathy and the power of point of view. You will learn how writers like James Baldwin, Carolyn Forche, and George Saunders use craft, voice, and imagination to put themselves in the shoes of the outsider, the misfit, or even, as Baldwin does, the antagonist.
“During in-class writing exercises and weekly homework assignments, we will strive to push past our own limitations and biases and, in expressing them, transcend them,” says Alison. “We will learn how to create artful resistance writing that doesn’t judge but observes and describes and explores. Come prepared to read, write, think, feel, and talk!”
No Instructor Specified
- Saturday, August 19, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Saturday, August 26, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Saturday, September 9, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Saturday, September 16, 2:00pm-4:30pm
- Saturday, September 23, 2:00pm-4:30pm
Alison is exactly what I was looking for in a writing teacher. She made the classroom environment very “safe” for us as writers and readers. She gave us very solid, specific, yet kind, feedback. She encouraged everyone to participate, by being present and interested when others were talking.”
Alison’s teaching style is a delight. She is informal and warm. She guides the group very well and presents a variety of opportunities for expression that certainly helped me grow. I am also touched by the intimacy that the group developed over time…thanks to Alison’s gentle, but firm guidance.
Alison led the classes skillfully. She quickly established safety in the group, presented interesting and inspiring articles by other writers, and gently facilitated group discussions (encouraging us to listen without judgement and making sure each person had an opportunity to speak). She also generously shared her knowledge as a writer and gave kind and helpful (and sometimes challenging) feedback about our personal writing. I highly recommend her classes to any writer, both experienced and new.