Class

Fairy Tales and the Art of Subversion

In both form and content, the fairy tale is an affront to "workshop craft." We can find subversive elements in the old stories we read, and we can subvert oppressive tropes in the new tales we write. So let's learn a different sort of craft. We won't cast spells. Or will we? (Hint: All words are magic.)

Themes of the class will include flatness, intuitive logic, abstraction, magic, evil, humor, world building, and endings (happy or otherwise). And of course, subversion. We'll read work by writers such as Elizabeth Ruth Deyro, Jamey Hatley, Lily Hoang, W. Todd Kaneko, Janet Ha Kim, Kelly Link, Nnedi Okorafor, Helen Oyeyemi, Sofia Samatar, Nivedita Sekar, Jeremiah Tan, Liann Yim, Joy Williams, and E. Lily Yu, with space left over for analysis of your own favorite fairy tales. Each session will feature examination of the fairy tale form, techniques for subversion, magical prompts and exercises, and time to practice what we uncover.

All Classes listed on the Loft website take place in Central Time.

Instructions for Accessing This Online Class

In order to access live class meetings, you must have the Zoom application downloaded to your computer. You will also need a WiFi/Internet connection throughout the duration of your scheduled meeting and a computer with audio and video capability. The information to join your Zoom classroom will be provided in your confirmation email upon registration. Please check spam folders if you do not see this email upon registration. For more information on how to use Zoom, please see our training manual here.