WRITING THROUGH ART: POETRY IN PARIS

WRIT3045OC: Writing Through Art: Poetry in Paris, 3 credits.

Instructor: Dorothea Lasky, Director of MFA in Poetry Program; Associate Professor of Writing, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.

At least since the Greek poet Simonides of Ceos called "painting silent poetry and poetry painting that speaks," creative writing has existed in conversation with a variety of other art forms, particularly visual art. In this class, we will explore creative writing as an interdisciplinary practice, with an emphasis on the work of artists who create in both the visual and textual fields. Among other key critical questions, we will consider:

1. How has an intersection with visual art been important to creative writing historically?

2. How does visual experience relate to particular aspects of creative writing?

3. How can we use visual art towards our own creative process in the future, either by using visual art in writing or by incorporating illustration in the presentation of our written work?

A mix of texts—classic and contemporary poetry and prose, illuminated manuscripts, children’s picturebooks, literature that we might consider visually-driven, and related scholarship­­––form the basis for our investigations, discussions, and creative work.

To enroll in this course, you must apply to the Columbia Summer Creative Writing in Paris program through the Center for Undergraduate Global Engagement (UGE). Global Learning Scholarships available. Tuition charges apply.

Please note the program dates are different from the Summer Sessions Terms. Visit the UGE website for the start and end dates for the Columbia Summer Creative Writing in Paris program. Please email uge@columbia.edu with a