CREATIVE WRITING: LITERARY MONSTERS

What does it mean to be monstrous? In this class, we will attempt to answer that question as we read works of literature that involve monsters. They can be beautiful, tempting, sinister, misunderstood, completely other or eerily familiar. They may include hybrid creatures, artificial intelligence, beings from beyond the borders of the known and ones that exist alongside, or even inside of us. Along with classic myths, we will read works by authors such as Julio Cortázar, Franz Kafka, Nnedi Okorafor, and Kate Folk. In fun, experimental writing exercises, we will try our hand at writing stories of our own (this part is optional, so feel free to join in whether or not you’re interested in writing).

(No class on Jan. 15, Martin Luther King Day)