Remote 3-Hour Workshop: Cynthia Cruz: The Impossible

The Impossible

But you’re in love with what’s impossible.
—Ismene to Antigone, Antigone

The German word for impossible is ausgeschlossen, meaning that which is “excluded” or “barred.” That which is impossible is not non-existent but, rather, beyond definition. For Lacan, the impossible is that which exists beyond the limit. It exists, but one must move beyond the limit in order to reach it. In this generative workshop we will read work by writers that move beyond what we might call a limit, engaging in exercises that will produce such writing. Writers whose work we will discuss may include Marni Ludwig, Emily Fragos, Allison Benis White, Marguerite Duras, Clarice Lispector, Larry Levis, and Frank Stanford.

3 hours on Saturday  |  May 20  |  12-3pm Eastern

All are welcome, space is limited. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available. Please email support@poetshouse.org with any questions.

About the educator:

Cynthia Cruz earned a BA in English Literature at Mills College, an MFA in poetry at Sarah Lawrence College, an MFA in Art Writing from the School of Visual Arts, and an MA in German Language and Literature from Rutgers University. She is the recipient of fellowships from Yaddo, the MacDowell Colony and a Hodder Fellowship from Princeton University. Hotel Oblivion, her most recent collection of poems, was a finalist for the Kingsley Tufts Award and winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the European Graduate School where her research focuses on Hegel and madness.

While our physical space is closed for construction, workshops will be held over Zoom. While you can use Zoom from your phone or browser, we recommend downloading the desktop client.