We have become used to telling and consuming stories about nature, placing ourselves outside and above that story. In this workshop we seek to tell stories with nature, recognizing ourselves as participants in the trajectories and subjectivities of other beings, exploring through that relationship our own experience of the world.
Creative nonfiction is a language that is grounded on reality but that, at the same time, allows us to explore that reality through subjectivity and imagination. This allows us to approach the world from a perspective of curiosity and contemplation, which in turn opens up new and original possibilities for storytelling and for our relationship with other beings and with ourselves.
In this workshop we will explore the language of creative nonfiction to create stories where our inner and outer landscapes connect.
**This is a short version of the original workshop.
Creative Nonfiction & Spiritual Ecology
An introduction to the framework of the course. We will discuss the characteristics of creative documentary, the principles of spiritual ecology and the ways in which we at Wimblu understand the encounter between these two areas.
Creative Processes
We will question the assumptions with which stories have commonly approached the more-than-human world and explore different concepts, theories and practices that offer alternatives when approaching our internal and external landscapes, thus developing tools to tell stories with nature.
Some of the themes we explore in these sessions are:
~ Contemplation and corporeality
~ Territory
~ Intersubjectivity and imagination
This workshop combines theory and practice. We will include lecture segments, as well as in-class practices, references reviews and group discussions. Materials (readings, documentaries, etc.) will be provided and additional practices and resources will be suggested for students to explore on their own time.
Through creative documentary, Alessandra explores the human-nature relationship in its affective, existential and spiritual dimensions. Her work is inspired and informed by the fields of environmental humanities, ecofeminism and spiritual ecology. Her photographs, short films and texts have been exhibited and published in festivals and media in Costa Rica, Europe and the United States; and she has extensive experience developing, attending and teaching courses and workshops within academia and independently. She holds a Master's degree in Anthropology and Documentary Film (University of Tallinn), a BA in Photography (Veritas University) and a BA in Collective Communication (University of Costa Rica).
Through her multimedia work, Carolina explores the relationships woven between themes such as ecology, gender, philosophy and spirituality, while seeking to experiment with image and different forms of storytelling. She has a degree in Photography (Universidad Véritas) and has worked as a scriptwriter, producer and art director in media in Costa Rica. Her photographic work has been exhibited in different galleries and museums, such as: INAH's Fototeca Nacional (MEX), Museo Archivo de la Fotografía (MEX) and Museo de Arte y Diseño Contemporáneo (CRC).
