Zawacki, Andrew
M 1 :50 PM
MLC 277
Committed to creative reading and, at times, “uncreative writing,” this workshop will introduce students to a variety of literary modes and forms, from the traditional and seemingly clear-cut to the hybrid, multimedia, and generically non-specific. Roughly divided among poetry, fiction, and creative non-fiction, the course will both affirm and trouble the distinctions defining these terms. Biweekly topics will comprise the memoir and the literary profile, short stories, the social and historical account of a specific place, the creative critical essay, and writing in relation to photographs. The course is premised on the idea that while art may well begin in emotional, intellectual, socio-political, aesthetic, or personal urgencies, no writing ever happens without reading, while reading is itself a type of writing. Consequently, in addition to undertaking creative calisthenics, students will be asked to prepare a significant amount of reading for each session and, at close, to submit a short critical essay. Classes will typically be characterized by an hour of discussion on the assigned reading, followed by a two-hour workshop, in which students will offer thoughtful, honest, fair critiques of one another’s work (and never of one another’s personalities), whether as a whole class or divided into smaller groups. We will certainly take a break in between seminar and workshop. The course is designed to present students with innovative, exacting ways to read, write, argue critically, and articulate what’s at stake in these endeavors. Three sessions will feature class visits: from poet and essayist Mary-Kim Arnold, comics author and UGA doctoral graduate Johnny Damm, and fiction writer Josh Russell.