Please consult the New School Course Catalog for a full course list. Spring 2023 courses include:
Political Reporting and Writing, GPUB 5102
Natasha Lennard, Part-Time Faculty
In this writing-intensive course, we explore a range of current and historic political writing, from political speeches and manifestos to long-form reporting and advocacy journalism, in order to develop an understanding of political writing as a set of
varied genres. Some political texts (like Tom Paine's Common Sense, and The Communist Manifesto) have arguably changed the world. Some investigative pieces of journalism have had a similar impact (one thinks of how the Washington Post covered
the Pentagon Papers, a previously secret history of the war in Vietnam). We take a critical look at media coverage of elections, the White House, and the Beltway but also focus on issues and stories far beyond this, including race and racism, the
Far Right and Left, #MeToo and feminism, immigration, the environment, the LGBTQ struggle, and more.
Faith in Modern Lit, GPUB 5311
Melissa Monroe,
Part-Time Assistant Professor
Reports of the death of God may or may not be exaggerated, but issues of faith and doubt, both religious and secular, have figured prominently in modern literature, from Samuel Beckett’s godforsaken seekers to Graham Greene’s tormented whiskey priests;
from Flannery O’Connor’s “Christ-haunted South” to Cynthia Ozick's secular New York Jews, struggling to define their relationship to the tradition they've inherited. In this course, we look at works of modern fiction, poetry, and drama that address
either Judeo-Christian belief or the secular creeds that have been proposed as replacements for conventional religion. We read brief selections from philosophers and theologians (Nietzsche, Kierkegaard, Buber, Jaspers, Maritain), but our principal
focus is on literary authors such as (in addition to those mentioned above) T.S. Eliot, Wallace Stevens, Albert Camus, Arthur Koestler, James Baldwin, Paul Celan, and Anne Carson. We consider not only the religious (or anti-religious) views expressed
in the work, but also how the literary form of each text contributes to its meaning. Our discussion of style extends to student work; four essays are assigned over the course of the semester, and we look at effective examples of student writing.
Multimedia Publishing, Production, and Writing Lab: Advanced, GPUB 6002
Jon Baskin, Instructor and Associate Director, Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism, and Kayla Romberger
In this hands-on seminar, students collaborate on an original publication. Early in the course, students apply for roles in the creation of a new magazine with a theme and design concept that the class chooses together. Each student focuses on editorial,
marketing, design, or production, although there will be opportunities for them to take on more than one role. Basic design skills (familiarity with Illustrator, Photshop, amd InDesign) are required, and priority is given to students in CPCJ who have
completed the introductory course. Students improve their ability to write, work with a team in a publishing environment, and learn about emerging phenomena in creative publishing, establishing them as strong entry-level candidates for a variety of
careers in contemporary media. The end goal of the class is to produce a magazine and a website with a focus on the landscape of creative publishing in New York. In the process, we re-create the atmosphere of a working magazine, with writers, editors
and design teams working in collaboration. Students are given individual tasks and are expected to meet with their classmates, both during class time and outside of class, to complete the collaborative aspects of the process. Professors oversee the
project and help on a case-by-case basis with acquisition of skills, including use of the Adobe Suite, HTML, CSS, WordPress, and printing techniques and editorial protocol. There is a strong emphasis on practical professional development by the course’s
professors, who help students learn how to interface effectively with professionals as applicants or employees in journalism and publishing beyond the confines of the classroom. Each student emerges from the course with a portfolio-building example
of their work, having learned how to connect with a public readership through promotional efforts and events. The lab takes full advantage of New School resources, including the Parsons Design Lab, as well as The New School’s location in New York
City.
Master’s Seminar in Critical and Creative Writing, GPUB 6301
Melissa Monroe, Part-Time Assistant Professor
An intensive workshop for students working on major writing projects such as an MA thesis, a piece of long-form journalism, or an integrated writing portfolio for professional use. The course is organized as an ongoing process of peer review supervised
by the faculty. The aim is to create a collective setting that can help students improve their own writing and hone their critical skills though constructive engagement with others’ work. This course is open to BA/MA students; please email the instructor
for permission to register.
Public Seminar Internship, GPUB 6993
James E. Miller, Professor
of Liberal Studies and Politics; Faculty Director of Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism
In this internship, students assist in the production and publication of Public Seminar, an independent project of The New School Publishing Initiative. Public Seminar is
produced by New School faculty, students, and staff with the support of colleagues and collaborators around the globe. This course is open to Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism majors only.