ENG 383-6 - Advanced Topic: Distinguished Visiting Writer in Live Literature: The Personal is Political (1)

Sharing personal stories is a vital part of creating social change, but for creative writers, trying to send a message or teach a lesson can drain a story of its value as art and/or entertainment. The emerging nonfiction genre of “live lit”-short memoirs written for performance-is an excellent medium for exploring the personal and the political in creative work. How can we broach political subjects without coming across as excessively preachy or wonky? How can we draw broader social points out of our personal stories, without seeming “whiny” or narcissistic? What’s the difference between writing for the page and for a live audience? Through workshopping, class discussion, field trips, and performance practice, we’ll move toward balancing the persuasive power of a political speech with the delight of well-crafted essay. Prerequisite: writing designated course (W), or ENG 201, ENG 202, or ENG 215.
(Fine Arts)