This year's English Department Symposium, on October 30 and 31 and November 1, 2024, will focus on creativity and, specifically, the creative process in non-fiction, fiction, poetry, drama, art, and music. We ask: what is the nature of creativity and how do we cultivate creativity? Creativity is a process that incorporates our thoughts, feelings, ideas, and beliefs, and includes personal, cultural, and social identities and issues. Speakers and events will explore several topics related to the creative process: seeking inspiration, generating ideas, developing and producing a written text, artwork, music, drama, or theatre performance. All events will take place in the Auditorium (A-103) except the Coffee House that will take place in the Theatre Room (B 325). See the full program for all details and descriptions.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30
- Erin MacLeod, Vanier English Department: It's not all news! Journalism and the Creative Process. 10:30-11:45 a.m.
- Panel on the Creative Process and Musical Performance by Michael Perry, a Caribbean-Canadian, pop artist & songwriter who lives by the mantra "uniqueness isn't a weakness". 12:30-1:30 p.m.
- Kevin Bushell, Vanier English Department: Aeolian Harpism as Hard Work: The Creative Process and Poetry. This talk looks at the practical aspect of the creative process as it relates to poetry. 2:15-3:45 p.m.
- Shaista Latif: Creativity in Theatre and Spoken Word Performance. Shaista Latif will discuss the creative process based on her experience and expertise as a theatre and spoken word writer and performer. 4:00-5:45 p.m.
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
- Pasha Partridge: Creativity in Indigenous Art-Making and Film. Pasha Partridge, an Inuk Kanien'kehá:ka artist, will lead a session in collaborative stop-motion animation making. 8:15-9:45 a.m.
- L.E. Sterling, Author: Fantastic Worlds (and How to Change Them). In this interactive lecture, author L.E. Sterling will discuss ways in which fantasy, science fiction, YA, romance, thriller and other commercial "genre" fiction utilize creative world-building to tackle difficult social issues. 12:15-1:45 a.m.
- Michelle Smith: Storying into the Future: Voice and/of Self-determination, a Red River Métis Perspective. 2:15-3:45 a.m.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
- Sharon Coyle, Researcher and Performa Instructor: 10 Ways to Support Creativity for Teachers and Students. This workshop will explore ten ideas to consider both in and out of the classroom to encourage creativity. 8:15-9:45 a.m.
- Edward Y.C. Lee: What is Creativity and How Do We Cultivate It? The author will give autobiographical details of his creative journey and how he became a writer. 10:15-11:45 a.m.
- Tawhida Tanya Evanson: Four Realms for The Artist. This talk will explore personal investigations and experiences of these 4 realms. 12:15-1:45 a.m.
