As a teaching artist, I’ve facilitated countless workshops, classes, and conversations on the topic of what art and artists have to offer in times of crisis. What can it mean to “meet the moment?” What kind of work can a poem do, and what can’t it do? For those of us who already consider ourselves creative writers, what kinds of tools and tactics are most effective when it comes to speaking out about the causes that matter to us? And for those of us who don’t think of ourselves as artists, what can we learn from how artists approach these issues?
I do not believe there are easy answers, but in my experience, there is immense value in grappling with these kinds of guiding questions. Meeting the Moment: Political Poetry and the Anthemic Impulse is an asynchronous workshop experience where I share everything I’ve learned from these conversations: examples, frameworks, writing prompts, tactics, resources, and more.
Because I don’t believe that art is ever going to be enough to get us to the world that we want to live in. But I also do not see us getting to that world without it—without some kind of cultural strategy, without narrative work, without artists.
WHAT IS AN ASYNCHRONOUS WORKSHOP?
I will share video lessons, resources, links, writing prompts, and all the usual workshop materials, but you have complete freedom to explore them at your own pace, where and when you feel like it. Yes, we lose the in-class discussions, the in-the-moment Q&A, the live community-building, but most creative writing workshops and classes are already built around those elements—this one is simply trying something different.
This is no substitute for engaging with a live teaching artist, and for people who have access to that kind of thing, I recommend that. This series can be a supplement to those kinds of experiences, and/or an alternate starting point for those who don’t have the same opportunities, whether because of geography, budget, or other circumstances.
Even beyond that, we can be honest: the traditional workshop format might sometimes serve some of us more or less than others. I believe that community is centrally important to a writing practice, but I also believe in many different, valid ways to find and cultivate that community. Sometimes, it’s okay to just engage with some ideas without the expectation of participation or navigating a social experience.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
While the topic is relatively specific, I see the potential audience as broad:
- Poets who are interested in exploring tools, tactics, and frameworks for writing that engages with political or social issues, whether they are brand new to the concept or have been doing it for years.
- Other kinds of writers and artists (songwriters, emcees, novelists, essayists, etc.) who are also interested in these ideas. My frame of reference is poetry (and spoken word poetry especially), but the focus here isn’t on micro-level craft concerns; we will be exploring ideas and tactical approaches that are relevant to all kinds of expression.
- People who don’t even think of themselves as artists, but who are interested in political communication, narrative, and messaging. Comms people, speechwriters, social media specialists, leaders, and anyone interested in being a more effective bullhorn for your values, your principles, what matters to you.
- Educators. Maybe you are teaching a course that covers similar ground, and you want to bring in one or two of my videos as supplementary materials, or to reinforce a concept that you’re exploring. Or maybe you want to set up an independent study for a student, and this series gives you some scaffolding and content to use. Lots of potential ideas here.
- Introverts, people newer to writing workshops, or people with busy schedules. The asynchronous format might also be useful for those who simply want to focus on the topic and not have to navigate a social experience.
WHAT AM I BRINGING TO THE TABLE?
First, some basic bio stuff if you don’t know me: I’m Kyle. I am a poet and teaching artist who has been performing and facilitating workshops for over twenty years. I’ve been a member of two National Poetry Slam championship teams, contributed to a Grammy-winning album, shared my work at the United Nations, published two books with Button Poetry, and visited countless colleges, conferences, and festivals, using spoken word and storytelling as doorways into critical dialogue. So my background is in poetry, but like so many poets, it is also in pedagogy, in youth work, in community-building, in social justice education, in media, and on and on.
I don’t share all that to position myself as an expert or authority; when the question is how can artists meet the moment?, no one has all the answers. I see my role, as someone who has been in so many spaces exploring these ideas, as simply passing on the tools, frameworks, and ideas that have been most useful to me—especially since not everyone has access to these kinds of conversations; there are plenty of “poetry 101 workshops” and similar resources online, but not so much with this more specific focus. In that spirit, this workshop will include:
- Seven new videos, over two hours of content: These videos are the lecture element of the workshop, and explore the functions of art in times of crisis, specific tools and tactics for writing that engages with social or political issues, a deep dive into the concept of the anthemic impulse and why it matters, a bonus video on performance and public speaking, and more.
- Audio downloads for people who prefer to listen, podcast-style.
- A downloadable workbook: a resource document where I link to every poem, quote, diagram, prompt, or other resource that I share. This document will also include extra writing prompts, resources for emerging poets, and more food for thought.
HOW MUCH DOES THIS COST?
The short version is that I want this to be accessible to anyone who is interested in it. I don’t want cost to be an obstacle. At the same time, putting this together was a ton of work, and I know it’s a valuable resource. So I think the way to strike a balance here is a sliding scale:
- The standard price for full access (to the videos, audio, and the workbook) is $20 USD.
- If $20 is too much to swing right now, get in touch using this form and we’ll get you a scholarship.
- There are also options to pay more than $20, for people who want to help fund scholarships for others, and/or have access to resources like professional development funds, educational materials budgets, etc.
If you’re interested, please register here and get instant access.
Thanks again. I hope this can be useful to someone out there.