MFA for All - Matt Bell - Fulfilling and Subverting Genre

In this class, we'll study the "obligatory scenes" of a variety of genres of fiction and film, using them to explore the story beats and tropes that give each genre its unique characteristics. (What is a rom-com without the meet-cute? What is a detective novel without someone investigating the scene of a crime? What is a horror novel without the first reveal of the monster?) We will analyze examples from fiction and film, then create our own versions of these famous scene types, aiming to meet readerly expectations without sacrificing surprise, innovation, and play. By the end of the class, you should have an increased knowledge of various plot shapes and their component scenes, as well as a significant amount of new fiction putting these ideas into practice.

Tuesday, March 4 & March 18. 
7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. to 8 p.m CST