Master Class: Collage [David Shields]
The novel is dead; long live the anti-novel, built from scraps. / I’m not interested in collage as the refuge of the compositionally disabled. I’m interested in collage as an evolution beyond narrative. / A great painting comes together, just barely. / It may be that nowadays in order to move us, abstract pictures need, if not humor, then at least some admission of their own absurdity – expressed in genuine awkwardness or in an authentic disorder. / These fragments I have shored against my ruins. / Collage is the primary art form of the twenty-first century.
Discussion of Anne Carson, “Just for the Thrill: Essay on the Difference between Women and Men”; Marguerite Duras, The Lover; Annie Dillard, For the Time Being; Amy Fusselman, The Pharmacist’s Mate/8; Eduardo Galeano, The Book of Embraces; Sarah Manguso, The Guardians; David Markson, This Is Not a Novel; Leonard Michaels, “Journal”; Maggie Nelson, Bluets; David Shields, Reality Hunger; George W.S. Trow, Within the Context of No Context; Joe Wenderoth, Letters to Wendy’s; other collage books and essays, including line-by-line examination of Dinty Moore’s short collage essay “Son of Mr. Green Jeans.”
FAQ
Complete FAQMost classes are offered at a general and member tuition rates based on instruction hours, with Hugo House members receiving a 10% discount on classes fewer than six sessions.
Early bird discounts are available during the first two weeks of registration and apply to both general and member tuition rates.
To help provide financial accessibility to our class offerings, some classes each quarter are offered with a sliding-scale tuition model, allowing students to pay what they can for the class. For these classes, tuition increments starting at $5 and going up to 125% of the standard pricing will be listed on the page.
Hugo House will only process refund requests that are submitted 5 business days or more before the class start date. To request a refund, log in to your account, go to “My Account,” select the “Orders” tab on the left-hand side, click the appropriate order, and request a refund for your specific class. Administrative fees apply. Please see our full refund policy here.
Class sessions may be recorded if a session falls on a holiday, or if a student has access needs. Class recordings are not guaranteed.
We do not tolerate racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, transphobic or any other oppressive behaviors, regardless of who commits them. Please check out our full community guidelines by clicking here. If an instance of community guidelines are violated and not resolved within the classroom, students may let us know by filling out the student incident report.
Classes may be cancelled if less than the minimum number of students are enrolled within ten days before the class start date. If Hugo House needs to cancel a class for any reason, students can choose between receiving a full credit toward future classes or full refund.
Make a Donation
Donations made throughout the year help fund our programs and operations.
