The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Sympathizer” explains how creative writing seminars can work against people who don’t come from the mainstream.
“As an institution, the workshop reproduces its ideology, which pretends that ‘how, don't tell’ is universal when it is, in fact, the expression of a particular population, the white majority, typically at least middle-class and often, but not exclusively, male. The identity behind the workshop's origins is invisible. Like all privileges, this identity is unmarked until it is thrown into relief against that which is marked, visible and outspoken, which is to say me and others like me.
But what is that art that is also political, historical, theoretical, ideological and philosophical? How is it to be taught? It must be taught not only as an isolated craft or a set of techniques. It must be taught in relation to, or within, courses on history, politics, theory and philosophy, as well as ethnic studies, gender studies, queer studies and cultural studies.”
+ I’ve never attended a writing workshop myself so @cambridreams what do you think of this?