MGP Genre Examples from Lynn Nelson Word Photos and “I Remember”

“Too often in school, we study language and writing in isolation, apart from the people who speak and write and apart from what happens when people speak and write- apart from our being.” Lynn Nelson, author of Writing and Being

Nelson introduces several unique genres, one of which you are required to use in your MGP: Word Photos “I Remember” Monologue “Where I’m From”

Brainstorm Hearing the genre “word photos,” what do you think this genre will entail? Hearing the genre “I Remember,” what do you think this genre will entail?

Word Photos

Nelson describes “Word Photos” as “play[ing] with images and metaphors to see what fits. We look for words that work. And then, as we get an angle on the feeling we want to record, as we get at the heart of it, we begin to work our way back toward a few strong words. We pare it down. We eliminate words that aren’t precise. We tighten. We focus” (66).

Word Photo Examples: MGP Peer Pressure

Word Photos- Peer Pressure Rainbow She’s blue, green, purple, iridescent. Twisting and moving how she wants, shining in the light, reflections of the rainbow. Pushing through the sea, there are no colors like hers, and they hate her for it. They hate. Her. They retreat from the colors, killing them. Pull, pluck, sizzle. Remove the colors. Blue fizzles to gray, green to brown, purple to black. No more colors, they say. No more. You are us, we are you.

Word Photos- Peer Pressure Technicolor Escape is in the form of a box. A box filled with her friends surfing around a digital paradise. Escape turns to a glowing truth and horror. Colors. On the screen. Her colors. No one was supposed to see. There they stay, in a miserable line, cold and shaking from their untimely debut, shying away from the eyes, the foaming smiles, the clenched fists. Heat now. Orange and red bursts. No more colors, just heat.

Word Photos- Peer Pressure Black and White Hot water licks the plastic sides, grows and bubbles to fill the haven. Sizzling. Steaming. Waiting with peace. Scorching soul meets scorching water. She sinks in. All she sees is black and white- tub, water, ceiling, floor. No gray. Submerged body, now submerged head. Her eyes warm at the intensity of the water, her muscles relax, her mind numbs. The colors dance in her head.

Word Photo Examples: Icon Robin Williams

Prenote I began researching bipolar disorder and its relationship with comedy. The idea that the two are correlated has surfaced in the aftermath of Williams’ death, so I wanted to see the facts. It appears some mania does have the tendency to surface in the comedic spotlight, but there is no solid proof that this was the case for Williams other than the fact that his manic impersonations and energy went hand in hand with bipolar tendencies. Regardless, I chose Word Photos to represent his change of character on and off the stage. I feel focusing in on two completely different moments in life-on stage and off stage- will encompass the theme of bipolar disease as well as capture polar opposite circumstances in a comedian’s life. It serves to account for bipolar tendencies in the mind and in everyday life.

Word Photos- Williams Lights Heat radiates from the buzzing light. Soft particles of dust swim back and forth in its golden glow, floating in dazzling rhythm to the performance below. Light reflects off crazed eyes, moves to flailing hands, descends to scuffling feet, resurfaces to wicked mouth stretched in an unforgiving smile. Light fragments with the fragmented.

Word Photos Action Stale alcohol clings to the air. Fingers brush glass, sloshing toffee colored poison. Fingers tirelessly brush hair, holding tight for relief. Fingers lift- tip and sip. Fingers drum the worn table, searching for relief. Tip sip. Brain drums, buzzes, warms. Tip sip. Sour taste turns to a bland burn. Screaming head turns to toffee- colored silence.

Postnote It was difficult to channel the stage persona more than the home life persona because I’ve never been on stage. I felt like an intruder in both cases, especially because I have no solid knowledge on what exactly goes on in either instance. I could only make inferences on what bipolar disease looks like and apply it to two different sides of one person. In the end, I think I conveyed the two completely different sides of potential comedic life in as accurate manner as possible. I do think the Word Photos were the best ways to zero in on the topic and shed light on opposites. Hoops, Erica. “Williams’ Death Points to Comedians’ Struggle.” Manitou Messenger. Word Press, 23 Sept Web. 5 Oct

I Remember

Nelson describes “I Remember” as “loss is a part of life. We lose many things: We lose our way in the dark; we lose our car keys; we lose our tempers; we lose friends and loved ones. The Universe giveth and the Universe taketh away. Our losses need to be acknowledged, grieved, healed, cried for, laughed at… Tell the story of loss” (155).

“I Remember” Example: Childhood

I Remember- Childhood I remember boys. Kevin. Bradley. Jorge. Timmy. Zac. I was one of them. Hair chopped to mid-ear, stretched out shirts, permanently barefoot. I was a heathen, running with the wild, just like them. I remember jelly beans in a stolen club house. We divided them as if they were contraband, sorting the greens and the blues and the pinks as if they were jewels. I was the divider, keeping order. Animals.

I Remember- Childhood I remember air gun pellets ricochet from my back, pine cones graze my shielding hands, and hunched hiding spots. We chased each other with whatever rock or stick we could find, desperately searching for hiding spots that could easily conceal and easily abort. Worms. I remember the railroad tracks. “Put your hand on the rail to feel the hum. It’s safe if there’s no hum.” Climbing down the slope, rocks crashing with our feet, muddy hands to stop from falling. Then we came to a creek, a pitiful little line of water. We calmed to hear its muffled voice. Peace.

I Remember- Childhood I remember Candy Lane. Poor street sign. I watched boys knock it down and steal it time and time again. Poor Candy Lane. She never stood a chance. I remember the taste of sweat, smell of skunk, feel of cuts, nicks, and bruises. Worth it. But most of all, I remember the fear of adult-hood. Running with pine straw and sticker-balls rolling under my feet, running with streaks of blurred trees and green leaves, running with my child eyes, running from the future.

“I Remember” Example: Icon Robin Williams

Prenote I wanted to look at the variety of Robin Williams’ career. As a result, I found a timeline of some of his momentous achievements through comedy and film. I wanted to channel Williams’ reflecting on the highlights of his career, so I felt the “I Remember” piece would best represent that. The genre reflects Williams’ successes in a format that allows repeated reflection on numerous occasions. I think the writing will properly represent my research findings because, again, “I Remember” allows me to delve into the past and go through the sequence of Robin’s career.

I Remember- Williams I remember the stage. One stool, two lights, three notches up on the mic. Away we go. I remember good mornings. And Vietnam. The louder the better. I remember teaching. Lesson one: standing on desks motivates our youth.

I Remember- Williams I remember Arabian nights. Blue mist, carpet rides, and Abu. I remember “hello dear.” No doubt I could pull that off with the children. I remember lions, swamps, and deadly board games. Do not say the name.

I Remember- Williams I remember we are a family, even when my family hides me. I remember I had to go see about a girl. And so did he. I remember finding heaven and it quickly turning to hell.

Postnote The genre I chose was more difficult than I anticipated. I think with the movies I did understand well, I was able to come across with the quirky message I was going for. However, the films I have never seen, like Good Morning, Vietnam, I just wrote based on what I knew or heard. My goal to convey the variety of Williams’ movies was reflected. The genre did allow a variety of films to be captured. A few “I Remembers” could have been stronger, though. I could probably research more on the movies themselves to better portray the piece’s timeline. Lawler, Kelly. “Celebrating Williams’ Great Life and Career.” USA Today. USA Today, 12 Aug Web. 6 Oct < /people/2014/08/11/celebrating-robin-williams-great-career / />.

Any questions?

Group Genre In groups of 3-4, which I chose for you, you will either choose Nelson’s Word Photos or “I Remember” genre to work with. You will pick an icon from the pile of icons that have not been selected. From there, work together to create one of the Nelson genres.

Group Genre You must have the genre ready to workshop Thursday, and Friday the final genre will be due. You will receive a grade for having the genre ready for both days. Among your group, assign the following roles: –Researcher(s) –Writer –Editor

Works Cited Nelson, Lynn. Writing and Being: Embracing Your Life through Creative Journaling. Novato: New World Library, Print.