Public Poetry Workshop with Victoria Kennefick

Sense and Sensitivity: Harnessing and Understanding the Power of Disgust to Write Memorable Poems

When: April 5th, 11am – 1pm
Where: Oscar Wilde Centre Seminar Room, Trinity College Dublin

I hope you aren't squeamish, but if you are then perhaps this is the course for you. Being disgusted or horrified by the organic or biological, particularly around bodily secretion and food spoilage, is common and often exists with good reason. These processes can alert us to the presence of disease and even danger. But these functions are fascinating too, and there is much to be gained in learning what disgusts us and why. What do these judgements tell us about ourselves and the world we live in now? What happens if we challenge these preconceptions and examine the history of disgust in poetry, but also in the context of our personal histories.

Join Victoria Kennefick as she explores how poets through the centuries have harnessed the power of gross to create unforgettable poems that speak to the true nature of human physical experience, and how embracing all things stomach-churning can be transformational for your writing. From Jonathan Swift to Liam Rector, Lucille Clifton to Bernadette Meyer, we'll explore poetry about all manner of nauseating bodily functions, studying how these speak to our collective anxiety and dread of acknowledging our mortality, to discover that maybe they are not so repulsive after all!

This workshop is open to the public and has space for 12 people.

To sign up, please email aberghen@tcd.ie

*Please note that the workshop room is only accessible by stairway; there is no lift.