Please note: this workshop will take place online.
Led by genderqueer poet and artist Lizzie Brand, this online workshop will explore the cathartic art of blackout poetry. With guidance from Lizzie, participants will destroy pre-existing texts with damaging themes and turn them into a positive piece of art – eg turning a homophobic text into a poem celebrating queer joy.
The first half of the workshop will feature introductory exercises to familiarise attendees with the basics of making a blackout poem. The second half will allow participants the freedom to explore their new skills, including defacing any texts they’re excited to destroy.
No experience is necessary to participate. A selection of materials from books and articles will be posted to participants who sign up before 11 May. Participants booking after 11 May will be sent digital materials to print off at home.
All attendees are encouraged to bring their own texts that they'd like to work on as well. Got an annoying letter from an ex, or a transphobic Guardian article that you’d like to improve? Bring it along, and Lizzie can help you use blackout poetry as therapy while turning your text into something redemptive or subversive.
The workshop will use texts which some attendees may find triggering. Potential triggers: Christian fundamentalism, conservative views on gender and marriage, homophobia, transphobia. We will learn how to pick out words from these texts and focus on what we want to build using those words, rather than reading the texts as a whole, but some people can find this triggering if they struggle to disconnect from the impact of the original text.
Please consider whether you are in the right mental space to look at these sorts of texts before signing up for the workshop. The facilitator specialises in making erotic poetry, so we can also explore this as a style of blackout poetry, and the particularly subversive act of turning religious texts into sexual ones.
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Please note: we can only issue refunds requested 72 hours before the workshop begins.
About the facilitator:
Lizzie Brand is a genderqueer poet and artist living in Edinburgh, Scotland. A former Tradwife (yes, really) they now turn books from their fundie Christian years into erotic blackout poetry, exploring themes of queer joy, and sexual and bodily autonomy.
Access information for this event:
This event is for ages 18+ and will be held online. You will need a good internet connection and a laptop/computer/mobile device to join us.
There will be 15 attendees maximum, and the event will feature comfort breaks. During this event, attendees will participate in: hands-on activities/whole group discussions/sharing work that has been created
If you have any questions or access requirements, please get in touch with us via events@glasgowzinelibrary.com
Find out more about access at GZF events and how to make an access request here.
All events will adhere to our safer spaces policy, which you can learn about here.
GZL pledges to support The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel. As part of this pledge we may participate in strikes called in response to the ongoing genocide in Palestine. If this event falls on a strike day and is cancelled, we will work with event leaders to reschedule the event asap. Participants will also have the option of receiving an immediate refund for any ticket purchases and travel booked to attend.
How to access the event:
After booking a ticket, you will be sent several reminder emails from Eventbrite leading up to the event. We will also send emails that share any resources that attendees will need access to, including any required materials.
Access links will be sent to attendees in advance of the event. For any technical problems, please email events@glasgowzinelibrary.com
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