ENG 309 Creative Writing: Responding to the Beautiful and the Sublime

Beauty is famously difficult, if not impossible, to express in language. Plato himself speaks of a "beauty beyond words." Yet philosophers and writers alike have tried to capture their understanding of aesthetic overwhelm, be it ecstasy in the power of nature, passion for a piece of visual art or music, admiration, or even envy, for another piece of writing. Blending both creative and critical writing, this class offers students the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences of the beautiful and the sublime, in both art and nature, and to explore prominent responses to the problem of what beauty is, and whether language is sufficient to contain it. Visits to places in nature, museums, theatrical performances and concerts will be coordinated with the instructor. Through both creative assignments and essay writing, students will explore how we use language to capture, express, or respond to aesthetic beauty in a variety of media.