overview
Lesson 1 | Summary
Activity Pages
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| lesson 1 | |
collaborators,
dictators,
managers & soloists |
activity | exquisite corpse
Exquisite Corpse (“cadavre exquis”
in French) is an exercise used by Surrealist
writers and visual artists to create original writing and
images inspired by the unconscious mind. The exercise is based on
is based on an old parlor game called Consequences in which players
wrote in turn on a sheet of paper, folded it to conceal part of
the writing, and then passed it to the next player for another contribution.
As a group activity, Exquisite Corpse is intended to spark students’
creative writing juices as well as introduce a discussion on the
relative merits of creating alone vs. with others. Give each student
a sheet of 8.5” x 11” paper. Each student begins by
writing a predetermined amount—a word, a sentence, a paragraph
or more, depending on whether the final piece of writing will be
a poem, a short story, or even an essay. After a designated amount
of time, each student will fold their sheet of paper so that only
the last word, sentence, or paragraph is visible, then pass their
paper to the person on their left or right. Students continue the
writing based on what they can read from the previous student, fold,
and pass the sheets of paper around to all members of the class
so that the last student writes the ending. Ask students to read
their texts aloud, and discuss the solo and collaborative leaps
that were made as well as the conceptual and creative boundaries
that were surpassed.
Exquisite Corpse can also be done as a drawing activity. Divide
the class into groups of three and give each group three sheets
of 8.5” x 11” paper. Each person takes one sheet and,
holding it vertically, folds it into thirds. In the top third he
or she begins a drawing of a figure or person. After a set time
(3 to 5 minutes), the student will extend a small portion of their
drawing into the top of the next section of paper and fold their
drawing back so it can not be seen by the next person. Students
then pass the sheets to the person on their left or right. Beginning
with the lines that extend from the top, repeat the process for
the remaining sections of blank paper. At the conclusion of the
activity, unfold the drawings and display them for the class. Again,
discuss the creative ideas and conceptual leaps that were taken
in the process. Xerox these drawings for each group participant
and have each student continue the drawing by including color, background,
or other elements.
What were the freedoms and limitations associated with participating
in the Exquisite Corpse exercises? How did the group process affect
what each student did individually? How many felt that their writing
or drawing was improved by being included in a random group? How
many felt disappointed by what they produced? Why? |
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