Recently I have been writing up a book chapter on teaching in the #MeToo era, and this is one exercise that I do not have room to include in the chapter so I thought that I would post it here. In the chapter, I discuss the importance of situating violence not just as an act [...]
Author: zbthompson
Tonight! Reading with Rob Mackenzie and Louise Peterkin
Just a note to mention that I am reading tonight at the launch of books by Rob Mackenzie and Louise Peterkin. It's 7.30pm on Zoom. I'm filling in for Cheryl Follon who can't make it. You can reach Rob here if you want to come along. I wrote a blurb quotation for Louise's new book, [...]
Culture Declares Emergency
Today I signed up to the pledge at Culture Declares Emergency. It is an international organization bringing arts and culture organizations together as well as individual people working in the arts and culture industries: Mission: the cultural sector is a leading contributor in creating a regenerative future that sustains everyone, everywhere. Vision: to grow, support and [...]
Green Film Reviews: “Normal is Over 1.1”
Normal is Over 1.1 (directed and create by Renee Scheltema) is an award winning film packed with ideas about tackling ecological crisis. Most valuable are the different experts who speak about new approaches and inspiring ideas. This focus on individuals springs from Ian McCallum, director of the Wilderness Foundation, who suggests that human beings are [...]
Green Film Reviews: “From Flint: Voices From a Poisoned City”
Movie Poster: From Flint, Voices of a Poisoned City Today, I watched this very moving documentary directed by Elise Conklin about the Flint Water Crisis in Michigan. Titled From Flint: Voices of a Poisoned City, this 2017 film really does foreground the voices of residents of Flint first and foremost. It allows them to tell [...]
Sneak peek of Aubade After A French Movie
I am really looking forward to the publication of a new chapbook with Broken Sleep Books titled Aubade After a French Movie this October. Here is a sneak peek of the cover and one of the poems, a translation of Medieval poet Gwerful Mechain's 'Ode to the Cunt'! This pamphlet features new translations of Medieval [...]
Malia Womack: The Rights of Women in Puerto Rico
The Sinister Myth Harpy Logo This morning, we just released a new podcast for Sinister Myth, and this one features an interview with Malia Womack, recorded at the end of last year when she was doing field work in Puerto Rico. I met Malia when she participated in my Sexuality and Violence course, and she [...]
Poetry & Film: A List
I'm teaching a poetry course again this semester, and some of my students will be making poetry films! It's a really fun and inspiring exercise. Since I started teaching this, I have been compiling a list of poetry-related films for my students for inspiration. Thanks so much to friends and colleagues for suggestions! Some are [...]
Being in a Body and Ann Hamilton’s “ONEEVERYONE”
If you think about it, it is pretty bizarre. I'm talking about the strange pressure that comes with living in a human body. A few years ago I was teaching a course that I don't normally teach. It's a kind of introductory writing seminar for first year students, and I chose the topic of the [...]
Sinister Myth: Talking to Elissa Washuta about Trauma, the Body, and How We Write It
I am really looking forward to my podcast, Sinister Myth, starting up again at the end of the month, featuring an interview with Cowlitz non-fiction writer, Elissa Washuta. I know a lot of my podcasting friends have been working out how to deal with the current crisis where we don't have the same access to [...]
