Week 4 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
Firstly, my apologies for not posting this newsletter last week, but I’m back on top of things now!

Week 4’s theme was childhood and admittedly, although one childhood book was read, the remainder of the time was spent watching snippets from childhood TV shows while eating our favourite pizza!

Afterwards however, a few keen symposiasts attended An Evening with Odysseas Elytis. It was a wonderful experience, learning about a culture, and a man, most of us knew little of. I found it amazing to be first bewildered by many of the poems, to then see their beauty as the cultural and translational references were explained: by Dr. Alfred Vincent, whom lectured the evening.

Some of the poems however, needed no explanation; they touched a very basal place in the collective human experience that transcended both age and culture. Once such poem was an extract from a series of letters entitled ‘Maria Nefeli’

For those of you who are interested, Caitlin will keep us posted about future excursions and lectures, keep checking our facebook page for updates!

 

Entertainment Corner
What We're Hearing

In the spirit of the theme, I’d like to share with you an old favourite, as recommended by Grant:

The NingNang Nong Song

Writing Challenge

To concur with this week’s theme:

write a poem to a child, teaching them the lessons you wish you had learned at that age.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Ps. Feel free to pop by our facebook page and recommend books, movies or songs for our entertainment corner

Week 3 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
Firstly, my apologies for not posting a newsletter last week, I was unfortunately unable to attend the meeting and the other lovely execs have been very busy (submitting chapters of their theses no less)!

Last week, the theme was foreign languages. Jess and Felicity both read gorgeous French poems: ‘Le Peintemps’ by Théophile Gautier and ‘La Niut D’Aube’ by Luc Benimont. Caitlin read Eis Demetran, a Homeric Hymn and Lan read some beautiful Vitenamise works—an extract from ‘The Tale of Kiêū’ by Nguyen Du and ‘Trāng Gîang’ by Huy Cân, which she translated herself!

Next week, the theme will be ‘favourite TV shows as children’. You could bring a rhyme from a favourite cartoon, a theme song maybe, an ode to the Wiggles…all those happy childhood memories!

We also have some very exciting news; Symposium is going to the Australian Poetry Slam Workshop on Thursday, September 8, and the slam contest on the Friday after. Anyone interested should RSVP to the event on our facebook page, so we can book enough places for everyone who wants to go.

Also, for our history enthusiasts, you are all invited to An Evening with Odysseas Elytis on this Friday, the 19^th August 2011, 7.30pm at the Greek Community Centre (29 Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane.  

We’re going to have the traditional post-Symposium pizza dinner during the meeting so those who want to attend the evening can leave a little earlier and get the bus together. When this week’s event page is posted, just comment with your pizza preference!

Here's a little bit more information about the evening--

“The event will celebrate the centenary of the birth of the poet Odysseas Elytis, who was awarded Greece’s second Nobel Prize for Literature in 1979 and will be co-ordinated by Dr Alfred Vincent (Emeritus Professor, University of New South Wales). The evening will also feature the young musicians from the Southside Parish Music Group.”

Entertainment Corner
What We're Hearing

I’ve been doing a bit of research into poetry slams and have found some wonderful spoken-word artists. These are two of my favourites; the power of their words is breath taking:

Sarah Kay

Kate Wilson

If you find any poetry slam artists whose work you like, leave a comment below and we can watch them at next week’s meeting!

Writing Challenge

In light of our in-depths discussions about perceptions, this week’s fun writing challenge is:

think of someone you admire; or someone who you wish you were like. Write a poem through their eyes—from what they see at their best, and what they see at their worst.

Remember we are all human; everyone is an exception to the rule!

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn

Week 1 Newsletter

Greetings Symposiasts!　

Calendar & Updates
Last week’s them was history and, a historic event it was. We heard Geraldine’s rendition of William Pitt the Younger’s speech to abolish the slave trade in England and our president and vice president shared with us some gorgeous poems from both Tennyson and Yeats: ‘Maud’ and 'Byzantium'. We were delighted to hear Brian sing for us his original song ‘She Says “Love Me”’. The song very beautifully referred to the uncertainty of love and new relationships, a theme which we all were able to connect and indentify with. It was an inspiring moment and received an eruption of applause from the audience!

Michael has posted a list on our facebook page of suggestions for themes this semester. Please vote for your favourite!

Entertainment Corner
What We're Hearing

This week we are of course all entranced by Brian’s beautiful songs, which can be found on his youtube channel.

For those of you who have already started to batten down your study hatches, I would like to suggest Adele’s new album 21 as a good study playlist. The songs are all very pensive and lovelorn, but at the same time speak of power and resilience. Perfect to inspire your intellectual will!

Writing Challenge

In light the discussions at last meeting, this week’s fun writing challenge is:

Write using a strict rhyme scheme. Then re-write the poem without rhyme, focusing instead on meaning. See how different the invited readings of the two poems are.

POETICA GRATIA POETICAE



Sincerely,
Katelyn