FYS 92773 / The Creative Habit / Fall 2010

Instructor:

Tiffany Rhynard, Ext. 5860, Office: MCFA 204

Email:

trhynard@middlebury.edu

Office Hours:

Mon 12:30-1:30 p.m., Wednesday 11:00-12:00 p.m., Thurs 3:00-4:00 p.m., and by appointment

Class meetings:

T/Th 1:30-2:45, MCFA 109

FYS Mentor:

Emily Culp, email: eculp@middlebury.edu

FYS Librarian:

Jessica Isler, email: jisler@middlebury.edu

• “The Creative Habit” by Twyla Tharp
• “Letters to a Young Poet” by Rainer Maria Rilke
• Additional handouts / E-Reserve
• Additional required materials: (Bring to class for the first three weeks)
  • 18″x 24″ newsprint pad (available at the Book Store)
  • Soft drawing pencil (black)–no charcoal, please!
  • A sharpener & an eraser
  • A set of 25 oil pastels, also called Craypas
  • Journal (bring to every class)

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND GOALS

Who am I? How does my perspective of the world shape my identity? What happens if I follow my gut and trust my intuition? How can creativity become as habitual as speaking, debating, and calculating? In this course, we will investigate (or excavate!) our creative selves and how we approach artistic pursuits, decision-making, problem solving, and building relationships. This highly personal and individual creative experience is explored through numerous artistic projects, group activities, lively discussions, readings, and extensive writing. The process of finding your voice will be informed by how deeply you tap into your feelings, emotions, aesthetic preferences, creative inclinations, and astute observations about life.