Hosted by our friend Elena!

Sliding scale tuition of $90-$400 for all 6 sessions. Register here.

In an environment of increasing information fatigue, this course will aim to formulate reading, and specifically close reading, as a practice that will train us to thoughtfully select and engage with content across mediums and subject domains. Through a set of “close reading skills”, we will use texts to examine our own operating principles and distill actionable insights that we can incorporate into our daily lives for greater clarity and contentment.

To do so, we will be discussing John Steinbecks East of Eden in six sessions. Written in 1953, this novel is a wonderful introduction to the world of intertextuality, universal themes, and subtle prose. It is rich in layers of interpretation and ambiguity and thus the perfect novel for us to dissect and delight in.

Each session will be anchored by a theme that we will explore both in the work and as a general technique. We will incorporate supplemental material to help us understand the text, practice close reading skills, and formulate questions.

The course is intended for artists, readers, people with day jobs, young professionals, old professionals, and everything in between. We’re looking forward to gathering a diverse group of people contribute to our exploration, and there are no pre-requisites except for an eagerness to engage with the works.

About the instructor

Elena studied Comparative Literature and Information Science and has been working in cybersecurity consulting for three years. She is passionate about incorporating art into everyday life and building practices to be thoughtful, creative, and content in all areas of life.