End of Term Trip to the National Gallery and End of Term Roundup

On Monday, myself and creative writing students took an end of term trip to the National Gallery. Now, the NG is one of my favourite places. Not only is it a beautiful Neo-Classical building, not only does it have a wide, well-organised and world-class collection of fine art, but it is also free. This makes the institution a place for pop-ins and days out, for casual dalliances and serious study.

                We started off by looking at the use of iconography is Christian painting. We have studied Panovsky’s theory of iconology in our lectures before and so we put this knowledge to use by going ‘Saint Hunting’ in the gallery. One saint in particular, Saint Stephen caught our attention as he is often depicted as having rocks balancing quite awkwardly on his head! This was because poor Stepthen was stoned to death in about 35AD…

                Still, after these rather sombre reflections, we then looked at some famous paintings to see how artists such as Rubens, Caravaggio and Brueghel have depicted Biblical narrative. One of the most fascinating things about the visualisation of narrative is how the static visual form (the painting) still manages to connote and suggest a sense of before and after. While being necessarily ‘static’, a writer can see analogies between the writing and the image and they share a similar vocabulary, a vocabulary that allows them to speak to one another. 

                Overall, a good trip where I got the chance to speak not just about my love of writing, but also about my love of some of my favourite paintings. Having this job really is grand.

                But now I draw you reader to some final reflections. This is the end of the first term of Creative Writing at UCA and personally speaking, I think it has been a considerable success. ‘Of course he’d say that!’ I hear you complain. But I think the work of students and staff has been considerable:

-          Developed and run an original creative writing course that balances analysis, reading, writing and workshopping.

-          Student feedback on the course has been resoundingly positive and student views on learning and course structure inform the future development of the course.

-          We have been visited by writers such Alex Garland, Hannah Vincent and Lisa Dart, with more to come next term.

-          A regular series of Writing Sessions have taken students to galleries, archives and libraries to develop their writing in new spaces.

-          Students took part in workshops run by creative resident Sonia Friel. Workshops developed their experimental writing skills and taught them about surrealism and OULIPO artists.

-          And of course an end of term trip to the National Gallery!

Right, now for a Christmas of marking, marking, marking…

Dr Craig Jordan-Baker

Subject Leader and Lecturer in Creative Writing

cjordan-baker@ucreative.ac.uk

Here in my Room. Harry English. Group B

Harry English.

Writing Sessions Programme for Term 2 Announced!

(W)riting (S)essions (P)rogramme

Writing Sessions are designed to provide a stimulating space where Creative Writing students can experiment, cogitate and stimulate creativity. The programme offers chances to write in a variety of inspiring places, where you will be exposed to objects, sounds, slideshows and artworks. Sessions take place throughout the term.

6^th January: Hockey Gallery (Image of the Road)

Delve into the gallery to explore links between text and image. Includes short talk on the latest exhibition.

13^th January: JL16

A unique opportunity to work with advertising students who will turn your writing into an event!

NOTE: Day starts at 9.30

20^rd January: Animation Archive

Work with the contents of the archive to generate new work.

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27^th January: Crafts Study Centre

Immerse yourself in the study centre galleries. Includes a short introductory talk.

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3^rd February: The Reading Room (Library)

Research and understand obsolete media to inspire hand and brain. Includes introductory talk.

10^th February: Hockey Gallery (On Reading)

Delve into the gallery to explore links between text and image. Includes short talk on the latest exhibition.

17^th February: Walk to Farnham Castle

Explore one of Farnham’s oldest structures engage your creativity in an amazing setting.

3^rd March: Crafts Study Centre

Immerse yourself in the study centre galleries. Includes a short introductory talk.

10^th March: The Reading Room (Library)

Be introduced to UCA’s many digital resources and find inspiration for your writing.

17^th March: Sculpture Garden (Meet at main reception)

Use all your senses to explore UCA’s very own sculpture garden.

24^th March: Trip to the British Film Institute

End of term trip to one of the UK’s most important creative organisations. Film, talks, exploration and more!

All Writing Sessions take place on Tuesdays between 10.30am and 12noon. For more information, contact:

cjordan-baker@ucreative.ac.uk

the stars reflected in her eyes by Azaria Messingham Group A

She lay there with her eyes wide open, unmoving in the chill of the night air. Her eyes were once the windows to her soul, now they were just cold empty blue orbs. No life, no soul shone through them. The only light was the stars reflecting in her eyes.

He sat there and gazed at her. She lay there unmoving on the grassy hill. She had never satisfied him until the moment when the light faded from her eyes as his hands gripped her neck tightly. There was nothing greater that the sound of her gasping for breath, the hint of betrayal clear in her eyes. Of course this wasn't the first time he'd done this. Every time he killed someone he got that familiar rush of pride. He lay back and let the stars reflect in his wide green eyes.

An Obsessive Love, By Malachi Fernandez (A)

She began moving away from me, but I pursued until her back was against the wall. She didn't understand, I thought it would have to be this way.

"What the fuck do you mean it was you!?" She screamed, tears streaming down her face “I’m calling the police you fucking psycho, stay away from me!"

She began dialling 999 but before she could start the call I lunged at the phone, knocking it towards the other side of the room. She tried to fight me off to reach her phone but I pushed her over, resulting in her knocking her head on the dining table where her beloved fiancé had been rightfully murdered. She was dazed. I was infuriated that she wouldn't accept me; I did this for her;

"I don't want to do this, but I will do it out of love, so we will be together for eternity" I belted.

I grabbed her by her hair and placed my full bodyweight on-top of her, I looked into her beautiful blue eyes with tears flowing from them and said;

"I love you Vanessa, I have loved you for years. All I want is to be with you but that is not what you want. I will love you in life and in death. We will be together in the afterlife"

Upon finishing what I want to say, with tears coming from my own eyes, the first time I had ever cried as a man. I wrapped my hands around her neck and began to slowly choke the life out of her. She still tried to fight it, clawing my face and eyes but I didn't let go, I did this out of love. I chose asphyxiation because it was intimate, passionate and because I love her.  Within around twenty seconds she fell unconscious, but I didn't stop there, my grip did not loosen, I continued until her heart beat no more. She was dead.

I cried. I cried so much. I held her motionless body next to mine for hours. Her body lay right in front of me as I write this. The public and media must understand this is what unrequited love has done to me. I must leave this world so I can be with her; I hope that in the next life Vanessa and I will be together. I shall kiss her still warm lips for the first and last time before I take my life. 

Vanessa Eldrige, I love you and I shall for eternity 

The Birth of a Demon

By Alex Hamilton GROUP B

Fleeing through this barren tundra

I slip over the silk covered mountains

Like oil over water

I see him, lurking like a shark

That Ustioian bastard in the Eagle!

Hunting my prey!

My eye’s gaze through the blizzard

The pride of Belka on the run!

I unleash a Sidewinder, howling of the rail

Like an attack dog chasing it’s victim

The screams of danger in my headset

Tearing to the right, popping flares as I go

Sweat drips down from my neck hoping, praying,

I Tricked the spear of death it streaks pass me

I punch the air in relief

I smirk, nice move buddy!

Show me a another trick

But I’m still the Hunter,

You’re a Rabbit on the run

I launch once more into the cold skies 

The shrieks of danger return

I panic as the flare counter displays a lonely zero

the fear of futility takes hold

Good by my wife, I was bested in these skies

A bang a fireball I live no more 

A ball of flame on the floor 

A man breathes no more

Now just a tally on a wall

Taken by the ravages of war

But one day I will be like him......

And I will meet him once more 

My Mistake, Group A workshop, Alex Dinnadge

My Mistake,

An accusation based on poor accumulations.

Her angelic looks graffitied by devastation

Her eyes bursting with despair.

Her head filled with what could have been, but can be no more.

 

We sit face to face; she occasionally breaks through the tide to peer at me.

I stare at the result of my destruction,

My skin pale with regret and sorrow.

Her skin beaming as the light bounces from her watery complexion.

Making her glow.

 

I slowly move towards her,

Trying not to shatter her fragile interior,

I gently polish my thumb across her cheek,

Trying not to scar her wounded exterior.

I feel her tears fall onto my guilt soaked soul,

 

With her cup of strength half empty,

She pushes my hand away.

My hope leaks away like the mascara from her eyes.

Knowing that my error is fatal,

I turn away for the last time.