Explore how visual art can fire the imagination through the power of imagery and be a powerful stimulus to inspire ideas for writing in a variety of text types including poetry, narratives, feature articles, persuasive writing and playscripts. Purnima Ghogar, Secondary English Teacher
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ntended to combat the ‘writer’s block’, challenge views of poetry as dull, inaccessible or always needing to rhyme, and above all, to enrich budding writers with new perspectives, this masterclass video demonstrates the proven benefits of using visual art as a powerful stimulus for developing creative writing. Works of art can be used as a springboard for developing a range of skills including: close reading, critical thinking, observational and interpretative skills, speaking and listening, development of rich and adventurous descriptive vocabulary for writing in a variety of text types, as well as confident experimentation with a range of literary techniques.
develops our appreciation of the nature of art and its relevance to our lives.
The act of writing about art is known as Ekphrasis, which takes its name from a literary practice that dates back to ancient Greek times. Today the term is most commonly used to describe either prose or poetry inspired by a work of visual art. It can provide an illuminating perspective on a work of art or the ideas it has inspired. In its most simple form it offers a vivid and often dramatic verbal or written description. The Ekphrastic approach is particularly relevant, inclusive and accessible for today’s students living in an increasingly visual world and
3. Putting your ideas and poetry into descriptive words;
Discover the practical steps that students and teachers can take to develop oral and written responses in thoughtful and liberating ways through a guided exploration of Mark Rothko’s abstract painting, Untitled (Red), 1956; these steps can be applied to writing in a range of poetry forms inspired by any artwork: 1. Careful observation and looking; 2. Interpreting and asking hypothetical questions;
4. Performing / sharing your work To learn more about how you can use these steps to write creatively using art and top tips to get started, watch the masterclass video below, which also features a powerful performance of an ekphrastic poem by Sebastian Scharder, 8L. Watch the full Masterclass on our YouTube Channel!
Purnima’s published research focuses on her interests in interdisciplinary learning and the relationship between visual art and literacy. She is co-author of the Secondary English textbooks, ‘Inspired English: Creative Writing and Critical Thinking Through Art’ published by Macmillan Education Australia, available at the Secondary library, and is currently writing a new book focusing on inspiring Secondary students in Years 7-9, of all abilities and learning styles, to engage creatively with reading and writing poetry through learning activities that support learners to generate an appreciation of writing poetry through engagement with art.
17/06/2022
Bangkok Patana School News
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