Workbook Poetry: English & German
Graphic Design by Deepak Manchanda
|
The German Institute (Max Mueller Bhavan) in (then) Bombay asked me to conduct workshops for Indian writers in the spring of 1980. This particular workshop dealt with contemporary poetry.
I scotch taped large white posters on the walls of the Institute and gave each writer two readers—one on each side—who would read random pieces from a wide range of German or English literature. To cut out all critical thinking, shyness, and self-consciousness, I played three or four tape recorders simultaneously at full blast, playing music that ranged from classical, to Indian music, to western rock and roll. As a result every single workshop participant wrote non-stop in a stream-of-consciousness mode. To heighten the experience, I asked each team to change roles every few minutes and to continue the process of pure creativity. Then each team sat down and got the post upon which they had work. From that moment on, each writer was encouraged to take the best of his or her lines and work them into new poems. |
Throughout the whole process, my assistant Anup Singh (now a well-known and award winning film director) and I went from writer to writer to answer questions and help each writer to come to terms with the blending of old and new concepts and styles.
In the following weeks, Anup and I then put together this 90 page book. During the next few weeks, I intend to publish these fascinating early works of English and German poems by Indian writers.
Henrik Eger
In the following weeks, Anup and I then put together this 90 page book. During the next few weeks, I intend to publish these fascinating early works of English and German poems by Indian writers.
Henrik Eger
Teaching poetry through an intensive writing workshop: An Introduction
By Henrik Eger
“Poetry?—Piss off!"
“Poetry?—I don't know."
“Poetry?— . . . . . . . . . . . "
Honestly, what would be your response if somebody asked you about this curious phenomenon called “poetry"?
If you have never written a single line of “poetry," try.
Writing poetry is easy, hard, frustrating, and enjoyable. All at once. Just look at the following 77 poems, written by Indian women and men, by students and teachers, by secretaries and clerks. Many of these people had never written a single poem in their life.
I offered a workshop--“Creative Writing: Poetry." There was only one day in which to do it--one day of writing poems in English. One day of writing poems in German. However, it's not English or German that matters so much as the fact that you do express yourself in writing, that you share with others, that you communicate.
If 30 people in Bombay [now Mumbai] can do it, you can do it, too. Every human being is capable of creativity. Just make for the right environment and you'll see the most extraordinary things happen. Invite some of your friends and try out some of the experiments which we did in the library of the Max Mueller Bhavan in Bombay.
CREATIVE CHAOS--WHAT TO DO
Get some old posters, turn them over, put them on the wall or simply spread them out on the floor. Ask two friends to choose one book--poetry, drama, novel, science, or whatever. Switch on you radio, your gramophones and your cassette recorders. Play music by Ravi Shankar and Mozart, Pink Floyd and The Who, or The What, or The Where, and start writing on the poster about any subject you like--say Love, My Teacher, Hinduism in Hyderabad, Victorian Pornography, or whatever.
And while you try to concentrate, surrounded by a cacophony of sounds, two of your friends would read into your ears simultaneously—perhaps Rabindranath Tagore into your right ear, and Gunter Grass into your left. Excerpts from the Times of India into your left ear and earnest bits of Hemingway into your right ear.
After five minutes (or eight) change your roles. Then change again until everybody has done his or her bit of writing. After 15 minutes (or 24 or 31 minutes) of reading, reading and writing, stop the music, stop the talking. Just sit and concentrate on the experience. Then write down your main impressions. This process will help you to come to terms with this creative chaos. Then read your comments to each other.
Perhaps, they are on the line of these comments written by our work-shoppers:
Beautiful, unconventional madness. A feeling of immense freedom and enjoyment. More. More. The crazier the better.
—--ROSHNA KAPADIA
Feel young.
----FERUZI ANJIRBAG
Ideas, ideas! and images!
tumbling over one another,
fun. And useful.
----VIKRAM CHANDRA
Enjoyed the noise.
Developed my listening and concentration power.
Tried to find new words.
Confusion is a springboard for creativity.
Background music added to the “pollution" and to the rhythm.
----ANTOINETTE DACOSTA
By Henrik Eger
“Poetry?—Piss off!"
“Poetry?—I don't know."
“Poetry?— . . . . . . . . . . . "
Honestly, what would be your response if somebody asked you about this curious phenomenon called “poetry"?
If you have never written a single line of “poetry," try.
Writing poetry is easy, hard, frustrating, and enjoyable. All at once. Just look at the following 77 poems, written by Indian women and men, by students and teachers, by secretaries and clerks. Many of these people had never written a single poem in their life.
I offered a workshop--“Creative Writing: Poetry." There was only one day in which to do it--one day of writing poems in English. One day of writing poems in German. However, it's not English or German that matters so much as the fact that you do express yourself in writing, that you share with others, that you communicate.
If 30 people in Bombay [now Mumbai] can do it, you can do it, too. Every human being is capable of creativity. Just make for the right environment and you'll see the most extraordinary things happen. Invite some of your friends and try out some of the experiments which we did in the library of the Max Mueller Bhavan in Bombay.
CREATIVE CHAOS--WHAT TO DO
Get some old posters, turn them over, put them on the wall or simply spread them out on the floor. Ask two friends to choose one book--poetry, drama, novel, science, or whatever. Switch on you radio, your gramophones and your cassette recorders. Play music by Ravi Shankar and Mozart, Pink Floyd and The Who, or The What, or The Where, and start writing on the poster about any subject you like--say Love, My Teacher, Hinduism in Hyderabad, Victorian Pornography, or whatever.
And while you try to concentrate, surrounded by a cacophony of sounds, two of your friends would read into your ears simultaneously—perhaps Rabindranath Tagore into your right ear, and Gunter Grass into your left. Excerpts from the Times of India into your left ear and earnest bits of Hemingway into your right ear.
After five minutes (or eight) change your roles. Then change again until everybody has done his or her bit of writing. After 15 minutes (or 24 or 31 minutes) of reading, reading and writing, stop the music, stop the talking. Just sit and concentrate on the experience. Then write down your main impressions. This process will help you to come to terms with this creative chaos. Then read your comments to each other.
Perhaps, they are on the line of these comments written by our work-shoppers:
Beautiful, unconventional madness. A feeling of immense freedom and enjoyment. More. More. The crazier the better.
—--ROSHNA KAPADIA
Feel young.
----FERUZI ANJIRBAG
Ideas, ideas! and images!
tumbling over one another,
fun. And useful.
----VIKRAM CHANDRA
Enjoyed the noise.
Developed my listening and concentration power.
Tried to find new words.
Confusion is a springboard for creativity.
Background music added to the “pollution" and to the rhythm.
----ANTOINETTE DACOSTA
