Photo courtesy of SCAD
On Wednesday Feb. 3, the liberal arts program hosted ‘SCAD Story Hour’ with writing professors Lee Griffith and George Williams sharing their work. The event took place in the Arnold Hall auditorium and ran from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The reading consisted of both professors reading from their most recent works and was followed by a Q&A.
SCAD’s writing professors include best-selling authors of fiction, non-fiction, creative non-fiction and many more facets of writing. With a variety of professors and talents in the faculty, the liberal arts department regularly opens its doors to SCAD students allowing them to see their mentors as writers and artists as opposed to just professors.
“I used to love to hear my professors writing, and it didn’t change our relationship in the classroom and it didn’t change how I though they taught, but it gave me a perspective for them as a student of writing,” said Liberal Arts Professor, Angela Brandt, stressing the importance of coming out and hearing Professors read.
“Seeing your professors as a creators and as students is really really important,” Brandt added. ” I think it’s an important relationship, it’s not something that just exists elsewhere and it opens up a forum for everyone.”
Brandt also highlighted the impact attending such readings can have on students and went so far as to say that even students outside the writing department can benefit from such opportunities.
“We had poet Jim Moore here last quarter and there were many people who were on the fence about wanting to be a writing major. And then suddenly I got emails saying, I want to be a writing major because of this,” explained Brandt.
Both Williams and Griffith offered insight into the world and writing and their own processes.
“Anywhere you can find a way into the story… find a way in, see where it takes you,” said Griffith sharing how he begins a story. Griffith also underlined that his own story “started as an anecdote or image you can’t shake.”
When Brandt asked what writers they read and why, both professors stressed the importance of reading and finding a writer that fits your style.
“When you’re young you’re informed by one writer, 10 writers, 100 writers,” said Williams. Williams then underlined how with time and lots of reading you are, “more able to see clearly what other writers are doing and what they can do and what you can’t do.”
Griffith, however, advised student to “avoid things you don’t like to a certain degree,” and that “If you’re into a novel and 30, 60 pages in put it down and find something that’s good for you.”
The event ended with a brief Q&A and discussion between Williams and Griffith, each offering their own insight into the world of writing.
For more information on the SCAD writing program visit their website and/or watch their video.
Written by Asli Shebe.
Asli Shebe is a senior writing major from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She began working for District in 2014 as a staff writer, then copy editor, A&E editor, Chief Assignment editor and finally, Editor-in-Chief in 2017. Asli currently holds the record for obtaining the most job titles during her time at District. When she’s not writing for District you can find her biking around the Historic District of Savannah at odd hours of the day.
