Harrison Scott Key gives insight into his second memoir at Story Hour
Written by Taylor Higgs, photos by Patrick Cox
Monday, Sept. 30, students gathered in the Arnold Hall auditorium for Story Hour, an event that celebrates faculty work, especially writing. This most recent Story Hour featured Harrison Scott Key, a former SCAD student
Key spoke of how many events from his second memoir took place in the very building that the event was being held and began to make his audience laugh, as an experienced stand-up comedian. As a preface to his reading of “Congratulations, Who Are You Again?” Key spoke of the American dream and desperation for approval. He connected with his audience by letting them know that art school is the place for both.
His witty and comedic comments didn’t stop there. Key talked about how he wrote his second memoir specifically for SCAD students because he was being asked the same questions repeatedly on how he got to where he is. So, he put it in one place. Key also wanted to address the fear and doubt he was feeling while trying to achieve his dream knowing that his readers may feel the same.
Key went on to describe himself as “a man with big dreams in a place where people don’t dream. It’s amazing what you can learn about yourself after it’s too late.” He encourages his audience not to lose hope if they don’t know what they want to be yet. He spoke of how he was several things before he knew he wanted to be a writer. Key comedically added that he was “officially out of the closet as a writer.” The support of his parents and family also played a large part in his success today.
A big take-away from his presentation was his section on “The 3 Keys to Success by Age 40-80.” At first, Key jokingly presented the key to success as “having a rich dad” but later went on to describe the keys as self-discipline, self-control and self-delusion. “As SCAD students, you already have the first one covered,” Key said. Being a SCAD alumni, he knows the work that goes into being a student. “You need to decide what you do and don’t want,” Key said when pressing the importance of friendship and family. “Whatever you’re going for, if you get there alone, you won’t even know that you’re there.”
Key was asked how his sense of humor in writing enables him to open up to his readers. “I think there is a vulnerability when people laugh together. Then you can get away with saying a lot more. I mean truth can really come out,” Key said. His writing brings readers together in comedic relief of heavier topics. “People feel much more at ease hearing difficult truths if they are feeling light and playful,” Key said.
He also finds that it gets easier to stand up in front of large audiences and present his thoughts openly. “I think I’ve always been kind of a performer, so I’ve always been okay getting up in front of audiences. It does get more fun,” Key said. “I think there was a time in my life where I realized I had to be more than a jokester like I actually had to have something to say, and so there was a time where I’d say it was a little harder,” Key said. He explains that being prepared and knowing what you have to say and present makes getting up in front of large audiences a lot easier.
Advice from former SCAD students and faculty such as Key comes from experience as artists in their field and as artists in general. Considering the advice presented students can look at ways to reach goals filled with hope. “Finish, show, make it better. It’s a process,” Key said.
