Attend one event related to this weekend's Arkansas Literary Festival, and write a 1-2 page (single spaced) critical reflection on insights you gained from the experience. A creative, well-written reflection can receive a potential maximum of 5 points.
All extra credit written should be turned in by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, May 2. Submit via email to Heather and Londie. Q&A with Amina Gautier Friday, April 28 @ 12:00 pm UA Little Rock Donaghey Student Center, Meeting Room G Arkansas Literary Festival Saturday & Sunday Check their website for details. Or click here for the schedule of events.
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Hi Class,
Here's a quick summary of the creative writing prompt we are asking you to write in response to the photography exhibit at the Arkansas Studies Institute: Choose one photograph that captures your imagination, and write a flash fiction piece about the character, place, and moment depicted in the photograph. Your goal is to write an ultra brief story that conveys Barthe's idea of the punctum in the photograph--the emotional sting that you feel when you react to the image. See if you can capture that emotional element with language. For Monday (February 20), we invite you to engage deeply with two texts: an episode of This American Life titled “Retraction” and Michael Martone’s nonfiction piece titled “Hermes Goes to College.”
As you read “Hermes Goes to College,” consider the opportunities and challenges that open up when we play with genre—when we blur the boundaries between genres and flout conventions. What happens when we approach our writing as a process of unlearning and learning? Of a study-through-action of how a piece of writing can inquire into ideas, contain art, and maintain order all at the same time? “Retraction” contains an intense and uncomfortable interview. As you listen to the whole episode, consider these questions and issues: What do writers of creative nonfiction have in common with journalists? What can we learn about “truth” by thinking about the differences and similarities between creative nonfiction and journalism? What function can emotion play in creative nonfiction and journalism, and what is the relationship between emotion and "truth" in nonfiction storytelling? Finally, what do you think of Ira Glass’s interview technique? How did he handle issues of truth and storytelling? For class on Monday, February 13, you have two texts to consider (check the calendar). As you read and listen, think about this:
How will you use what you learned about space, community, and research to work toward complexity and nuance in your research? What are you learning from your research that helps you make your own theory about home and community? What IS your theory of what home and community means to you? Hi Class, As you watch and reflect on the Dive documentary this week, consider these three points:
1. Notice moments in the documentary that inspire or encourage you to think about connection to place, community, or home in different or unfamiliar ways. 2. Think about how you can use these new perspectives to notice places for investigation and invent creative, critical questions to drive your research. 3. How do the documentary participants branch out from their original research topic? How do they move toward complexity? What kinds of questions do they ask? Read the assignment guidelines for the classmate interview here.
Selfies get a bad wrap, perhaps for good reason. But here's another perspective to consider, from PBS Idea Channel. What do you think? It was wonderful to meet all of you today. Thank you for showing up and speaking out.
And thank you to those who read their "first memory" stories. Remember, if you didn't have a chance to share your writing with us, be sure to bring it to our next class on Wednesday, January 11. We'll open the class with your words and memories. |
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