THIS EVENT IS NOW CANCELLED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS. RESCHEDULING INFORMATION FORTHCOMING.
Friday, May 1 from 5:30pm-9:00pm, Saturday, May 2 from 9:00am-5:00pm, and Sunday, May 3 from 10:00am-3:00pm.
Cost: $555 (Earlybird price: $500 when you pay in full before January 16)
“Pornography,” writes Audre Lorde, “is a direct denial of the power of the erotic, for it represents the suppression of all true feeling. Pornography emphasizes sensation without feeling.” And yet its ubiquitousness and great variety suggest that pornography is offering something essential to many within the context of our culture.
In this weekend intensive, we’ll probe into the promise and problems of porn. Despite an abundance of loud opinions on the subject, rarely do we see nonfiction writers engaging pornography vulnerably through rich memoir or essaying. Here we’ll come together to read what already exists and to write what’s next, identifying the craft challenges and social barriers to writing about porn well. Together, we’ll creatively examine how porn intersects our own lives, including the core question of what it means to intend to arouse those who are not physically present—whether through writing or visual media—and what arouses us into living better. Participants will creatively engage with works of pornography before class begins, an assignment that serves as an engine for thinking about exactly what porn is—what its existence and forms tells us about ourselves, both as individuals and as a species.
All writers should plan to submit a related essay of up to 7 double-spaced pages, a minimum of two weeks before the class begins, for workshopping during the course. (Prompts are available). This may be an excerpt. Please note that you do not have to feel any particular way about pornography to take this class. This is a group exploration, not a preaching-to-the-choir experience.
This class will run with a minimum of 6 participants and a maximum of 8. Participation in the class requires a brief application, which will be accepted or released within five days of receipt, as part of consciously cultivating a group that will best hold space for this difficult and invigorating topic. This class is ideal for alumni of previous Penning the Nasty, Owning the Nasty, and NSFW classes.
All participants should plan to be present for the entire class, with no late arrivals or early departures. Participants should also plan to complete a small assignment Saturday night— I promise it’s fun.
This class is designed to be trauma-sensitive and draws on Kati’s experience as a seasoned sex writer and Certified Sexologist who has provided sexuality education to more than 8,000 people.
A deposit of half the total cost is required to hold your space, with the remainder due at the start of class. This deposit is non-refundable within one month of the class start date. Class fees are 100% nonrefundable within 72 hours of the class start date.
This class is hosted in a private home in Tucson’s historic Barrio Viejo neighborhood.
