My People: Poetics of Social Change Masterclass
Unshackle your language and transform your poetry with liberation poetics.
Colonial dominant languages are a means of policing the body politic, but poetry has historically rebelled against that. This Masterclass will involve reading the work of Aime Césaire, June Jordan, Ahmed Fouad Negm, and Marwa Helal, who all composed poetics that “broke the stranglehold” of Standardised ways of speaking, and Standardised ways of being. Their poetry accompanied the Civil Rights Movement, the Egyptian Peasant Uprisings, the early rise of Pan-Africanism, and the Arab Spring.
Students will be guided through exercises with the aim of confronting and shattering “the language that governs us” (Emily Jungmin Yoon). Attendees will localise the necessity of their poetry through deepening their understanding of who they are writing for.
Masterclasses are an expanded version of our International Courses, with a much deeper consideration of technical craft and critical theory. These 12-week courses (maximum 10 places) are for advanced students only, and fluency with poetic language and ideas will be assumed. There are no live chats and they are suitable for UK and International students.
Concessions & Accessibility
To apply for a concessionary rate, please send relevant documentation showing your eligibility for one of our concessions to [email protected]. Conditions of eligibility are detailed here. If you have any questions or wish to be added to the waiting list of a sold-out course, please email [email protected]. For more information visit our Online Courses page.
Image credit: @kaboompics
About lisa minerva luxx 
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lisa minerva luxx is a British-Syrian writer and political activist. Their poetry, essays and fiction have been published internationally including by Poetry Review, Telegraph, New England Review, BBC Radio 4 and their short film ‘Lesbian.’ was produced by Channel 4. In 2021 their debut collection, Fetch Your Mother’s Heart received critical acclaim. They are a platinum award-winning lyricist with Maison Arts, LA, while also a playwright: have written three verse plays including what the dog said to the harvest which premiered at Southbank Centre. Currently, studying their PhD in diaspora resistance poetics. In 2025 their short story collection, Raising Sun Son, is set for release by Comma Press. They believe in transnational community organising and grassroots action as a means of liberation.
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