“Words are events, they do things, change things.” – Ursula K. Le Guin.
Everyone in the Barnard community has experienced firsthand the impact words can have, especially in the aftermath of violence or in ongoing crises. In this moment of immense loss of life, political strife, and public assembly, many in this community are using their words to effect change. There is no substitute for political protest and the staggering meaning it can make and break on the public stage.
This half-day workshop is not a substitute for political protest or speech, but another outlet for individual and collective sensemaking in profoundly troubling times. The goal is to bring students from a variety of positionalities and political perspectives together to interpret relevant poetry and literature surrounding the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict, to write or tell their own stories (fictional or biographical), and together to read and interpret those stories with as much rigor and respect as published works of literature. We invite students to recommend poetry, short fiction, or excerpts from novels for the group to read at the beginning of the workshop. We seek students who wish to draw on their own creative energies to share something of their experience with others in a space devoted to careful reading, active listening, and self-expression.
Event Date and Time: Friday, December 8 | 9AM-1PM
Location: TBD
Contact us at dei@barnard.edu or pedagogy