Introduction to CREATIVE WRITING UNIT

 

As you all know, this offering of Creative Thinking and Artistic Process is a prototypical venture.  Undertaking this course with you and the mentors has been a blast. For the first time in my Trinity career, I feel the freedom to endeavor to interact on a personal level with people interested and passionate about the concept of Òcreativity.Ó  A feeling that many of us are exchanging artistic thoughts, challenges and questions, which are removed from the stress of competitive grades, buoys me.  This is the hippie is me. If you feel less connected, we should meet.  I know and appreciate different learning styles.  After all,  we are only half way into the course.

 

I am excited to see what our Music Finals might bring before we jump into our Creative Writing focus.  Remember, our quest is to appreciate and experience the processes of creative thought through various artistic disciplines.  Today, we met a working, professional writer with a published hardback edition of a novel.  Today we witnessed a New Yorker, a film maker, a stagehand, a writer.  Today, in my opinion, we met a professional writer.  He may be successful because he has figured out his methods to find creative thought.  He may be successful because he understands the business of writing.  In any event, today we saw an example of a successful writer.  How does this relate to you?

 

The CREATIVE WRITING UNIT uses as inspiration, RilkeÕs ÒLetters to a Young Poet.Ó  A very short book, RilkeÕs letters will form the basic structure of our writing assignments.  We will discuss this short text on Tuesday, 3/24.  Make it a priority to read RilkeÕs words.

 

T 3/24 CREATIVE WRITING   Discuss ÒLetters to a Young PoetÓ

 

PROJECT DUE DATES

           

EMAIL 2 choices for group discussion to PHIL AVOCATO  Due MONDAY 3/30

 

SELECTION OF Visual Art Print or Instrument Music and Sound Bite  Due 3/31

 

LETTERs to a Young Students  Due 4/2

 

HISTORICAL RESEARCH Due: 4/7

 

CHARACTER MEMORY CUP Due: 4/9

 

PRESENTATION of Painting, Research, Memory Cup and Creative Process  
Due: 4/14

 

 

 

 

 

LETTERS TO A YOUNG POET SELECTIONS

Due MONDAY 3/30

            EMAIL 2 choices of letters from RilkeÕs book for group discussion to PHIL AVOCATO. 

 

You are to select two letter from RilkeÕs ÒLetters to a Young Poet.Ó  Email your two choices to Phil Avocato by Monday, 3/23.  In class on Tuesday, we will break into 4 discussion groups.

 

LETTERS TO A YOUNG STUDENT

DUE:  R 4/2

            We are all pilgrims on the journey toward a creative life, and this journey is as important as the destination we seek.  Mary Montle Bacon wrote, ÒWe are what our journeys have been.Ó  If we are lucky, we receive valuable advice along the way from those who have traveled the roads before us and from those walking with us.  If we listen we can hear insight and encouragement as we forge our own paths.

            Write a very short letter to someone anonymous in the fashion of Mr. Kappus writing to Rilke. The letter may be about almost anything; your secrets, dreams, fears, aspirations; questions about the meaning of life or love; personal questions to the reader.. E-mail these letters to Phil Avocato by WEDNESDAY. He will then randomly send letters to different people in the class. The recipients will respond to the letter. They may respond in a variety of fashions: a letter, a poem, a short-play or scene, as long as it is creative writing.  Due 4/2

 

 

THE MUSEUM PIECE

 

            As an individual project each student will study a museum piece (a pre-existing work of instrumental music or visual art) and create a character who lives in the work of art.  There are four aspects to the project.

Visual Art Print or Instrument Music and Sound Bite  Due 3/31

á      Choose a painting, sculpture, etc., or instrumental music piece that intrigues you, one that draws you into its world.  The work of art should suggest a depth of field within the environment depicted.

á      Find a very good quality print or recording of the work of art.  Bring to class for presentation. 

á      Write a brief ÒinfomercialÓ or Òsound biteÓ about the artist who created the work of art  and about the work itself.  Be prepared to share in class!

 

 

Historical Research Due: 4/7

á      Conduct appropriate research into the world depicted in the painting or music you have chosen. SEEK THE GUIDANCE OF BENJAMIN HARRIS, our Fine Arts Librarian if you need help.

á      Develop a full-sentence Outline specifying hi-lights of your research into the historical context of the world depicted in the painting.  Internal citations are required.  This outline presents a combination of relevant historical research and your own creative process as you develop an original character that lives in the world of the work of art. The outline will serve as your narrative commentary for your final presentation to the class.

 

Character Memory Cup  Due: 4/9

á      Craft a memory ÒcupÓ for your character in which an early ÒcallingÓ is the focal point of the recollection, revealing a passion, a dream and hinting at a creative life yet to be lived

 

Presentation of Painting, Research, Memory Cup and Creative Process 
Due: 4/14

á      Design and execute an engaging presentation of your creative process for this project. 

á      The painting, your research and the memory cup will be the major components of your presentation.

á      Length for each presentation: 4-5 minutes. 

 

You will submit your MUSEUM PIECE to you mentor and to me for feedback.