Snapshot of our Critical Writing journey

Critical Writing The

Critical Writing

Courses

“Paulo Freire states language is not just an instrument for communication but also a structure of thinking. Therefore, writing and expressing ourselves drawing from our multilingual abilities is fundamental to finding an authentic voice (both inner and collective) in whatever we do. It is our responsibility as young citizens to not let various members of our communities become mere spectators instead become critical participants in building a hopeful future. I wish you all the best for your explorations with writing and bringing the change you wish to see in the world!” "This week we have classes in sections"

PINKER IS MY HOMIE

"PROBLEMATIZE!"

1 hour before the deadline: "Who is yet to start their first draft?" The class debate on language acquisition was really memorable

The last class of CW was the most memorable, when we all burst into sad yet happy tears of fulfilling the course. I will miss the cultural exchange, fun facts from different languages and the language buddy groups

Moin's funny comments in the chat box always lightened up the mood! Lera Boroditsky - to the moon and back!

"Congratulations on making it through the fellowship. Having seen you undergo such magical transformations, I think my work here is done. Horace, in his 19 BC poem Ars Poetica says that Poetry should “both instruct and delight” and that has been the guiding light for us in this course. “Attention Economy” has taught us that our engagement is conditional upon the pleasure we get in return and it has indeed been a pleasure to work closely with you on your reading-writing-thinking practices over the last year. Critical Writing is not just a one time, one year course. It is a meme which, upon finding a home in your brain, should continue to replicate exponentially irrespective of whichever field of study/profession/sector you find yourself in. Going beyond academic and professional spaces, the critical approach is intrinsic to what we call IRL."

Hello guys, whatsupp with you. You have got this guys, Turn on your videos pleasee. How have you been doing, class? *Silence* Alright, then. I ain't going anywhere. Despite all that has been going on with the world, I haven't given up on you guys just yet. I'm always going to be here for all of you.

Turn it in assignments. Form and Content. My mother is a tree.

How I expected my 2020 to go The compilation of memes for Anunaya was the best class. All of us were laughing and yet super emotional.

Tunaktuntun song analysis Tunak Tunak Tun :D The class which delved into the layered nuance behind Tunak Tunak and Old Town Road. That one class that can't be mentioned.

“My dear PPekids, You have been my Homies throughout this past year. If it weren't for you and CW 203, YIF wouldn't hold the special place it does in my heart. Spread your wings and do Dora, the Explorer proud, wherever you go! Love always, Prateek”

Let's nip this in the bud. Tsk tsk. So what? Take that thought forward.

Drizzle wants to go out of the room. Bureaucratic semiotic technology

Prateek playing Bollywood music all the time. Drizzle and Tiger time The homing presentation Crying together Prateek taking us to places we are discussing over zoom CW 203: Writing the City

When Prateek surprise-visited us! In-person classes with Prateek

“Never stop thinking critically, and never stop enjoying that process. Passion/ love/ friendship is but another name for critique. Take care of yourselves-physically, intellectually, emotionally as well as spiritually."

I remember being handed over two bunnies in the middle of the CW class. It was a surprise by my father.

Interesting That's not what the essay actually means but sure What's happening people! Shiv playing music before every class! Kokila Bain scolding Gopi in class Watching innumerable films in the class together and then having the amazing and critical post-film discussions.

Knowledge

Power

Sex

Together we are Discourse

More sex

FOUCALT

Did not know Literature is so LIT!

"The Mad Hatter meets Black Swans and White Swans. A shell-shocked soldier is captured and tortured by the enemy. A ballet dancer confronts the darkness inside. I don't want realism. I want magic! To look life in the face, always, to look life in the face and to know it for what it is. At last to know it, to love it for what it is, and then, to put it away. But love is never any better than the lover. Wicked people love wickedly, violent people love violently, weak people love weakly, stupid people love stupidly, but the love of a free man is never safe. There is no gift for the beloved. The lover alone possesses his gift of love. The loved one is shorn, neutralized, frozen in the glare of the lover’s inward eye. Seeds of marigold fall in a plot of black dirt. A girl with bluest eyes meets another with purple. I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it. Their love, thick and dark as alaga syrup, eased up into that cracked window. They could smell it - taste it—sweet, musty, with an edge of wintergreen in its base—everywhere in that house. Here is the house. It is green and white. It has a red door. It is very pretty. The house has a room. The room has yellow wallpapers. The wallpaper has a pattern that is dull enough to confuse the eye in following, pronounced enough to constantly irritate and provoke study, and when you follow the lame uncertain curves for a little distance they suddenly commit suicide—plunge off at outrageous angles, destroy themselves in unheard of contradictions. We die. That may be the meaning of life. But we do language. That may be the measure of our lives."

Last session in December - chit chat. One on ones with Saty. Can we get an extension? Wanted to make a 'Fight Club' joke here, couldn't get the punchline right. :(

Watching Fight Club together with the class in RH2 commons and screening the Zoom class on the TV! After an intense discussion on the violence of love, the whole class listened to Cherry Wine. Felt like an intimate, shared experience; even though we were all online.

Hello Madhatters! Exercise critical thinking to understand your subjectivity and henceforth, assert your agency.

“What is a good education? A sharpening of wits; the expansion of the heart? Joining the dots; cleaving apart? Gosh, there are too many answers, should we go back to the start? But the better answer you must seek—let that be your art.”

Sayan, we want an extension please.

Scan the QR Code to view CW 206's website When Sayan and I conducted a class on music, where I played the piano and the guitar, while he rapped.

Phrasing is not clear. This is an abrupt transition. This sentence does not follow intuitively from the previous. Don't engage in polemical arguments.

Sayan's nephew joining the class. Sayan talking about each student in his concluding remarks. Such a sweet gesture!

When Sam, Rishav, Gayathri and I played eccentric characters for a mock news debate and Sayan played the host. It was fun to engage in banter and "heated arguments" that brought out how people generally commit fallacies in thinking and speech. Awesome time!

Ratna is a cat lover and a preceptor. In her Critical Writing course, she combines the disciplinary insights of anthropology with an editor’s deep respect for how language works to demonstrate the inextricable link between critical thinking and good writing and to empower her students to become proficient in both.

Ratna, can we have a break? Did anyone get feedback?

Luka dropping in to say hi in every other class. Luca's grand entries, Picollo and the bird head. Ratna and her never ending jokes. Few classes when I was moderating and Ratna was just enjoying the show.

Ratna, can we have one more extension?

Now see this [insert fellow's name] now making fun of [insert what preceptor did then]