Writing has always been one step in the future. From emojis to slang to song, writing has momentum, and it is up to us as educators and artists to find ways of moving with it. In the light of current concerns about technology and the changing relevance of traditional writing techniques, how can our assignments, pedagogical investment, and practices adapt? What might this look like in the Fine Arts classroom, a context in which writing exists alongside other forms of creative communication? How does the protean nature of writing influence our conception of originality and our methods of teaching and practicing core scholarly techniques, such as citing, designing syllabi, and researching? How (and why) do we engage Fine Arts students in practice-based streams that develop writing skills? Finally, how would a focus on composition or communication, instead of writing, change the way we teach core skills in the classroom?
In this one-day hybrid symposium, we will explore expanded practices of research and writing in postsecondary Fine Arts, with an emphasis on foundational, interdisciplinary, and practice-based courses. Writing has always been a changeable medium with an ambiguous role in arts practice — how can we work and adapt with it in a classroom context while inviting students to do the same?