structure

Introduction
Theory:

• ​Hannah Arendt
• Judith Butler

Inspiration

• ​Jean-Luc Godard: I Salute You, Sarajevo (1993)

Creative writing exercise
​Stay grounded & motivated
​Share your text with us

introduction

Welcome to this online creative writing course, where we will explore the challenging themes of aggression and violence through a creative lens. These subjects are complex and deeply embedded in the human experience, touching every corner of society, from personal relationships to global conflicts. Our goal is not just to confront these harsh realities but to understand them, unpack their impact, and transform them into meaningful art.
​
Throughout this course, we will engage with theories on violence from various disciplines, including psychology, sociology, and political science, to help frame our creative work. Thinkers like Hannah Arendt, who explored the nature of power and violence in her work On Violence, and Judith Butler, whose reflections on vulnerability and the body have influenced contemporary discussions on aggression, will guide our discussions. These theoretical perspectives provide a backdrop as we reflect on how violence shapes individuals, societies, and cultures.

We will also draw inspiration from the world of art and literature, where writers, filmmakers, and artists have long grappled with the representation of violence. Jean-Luc Godard’s short video I Salute You, Sarajevo (1993) will serve as a key reference point for our creative exploration. In this piece, Godard merges stark imagery with political commentary, forcing us to confront the brutality of war while inviting us to reflect on its deeper meanings. This approach—using creative work as a means of understanding and processing aggression—will be central to our course.

Through creative writing exercises, you will have the opportunity to explore these themes from both a personal and societal perspective. By turning observation into storytelling, we can transform aggression and violence into narratives that not only reveal the complexities of these issues but also offer insight, empathy, and, ultimately, hope.

theory

Aggression and violence have long been central to human history, shaping societies and leaving indelible marks on individual lives. To explore these themes in depth, we must engage with both their personal and systemic dimensions, as well as the ways they intersect with power, identity, and vulnerability.

Hannah Arendt

Hannah Arendt's On Violence offers a crucial theoretical foundation by distinguishing between power and violence. Arendt argues that power is rooted in collective action and shared purpose, while violence emerges when power breaks down. When institutions fail to mediate conflicts or when dialogue collapses, violence often fills the void, asserting control through force rather than consent. This breakdown of power is not just an abstract political problem; it resonates in everyday life, where violence can be seen as the ultimate failure of communication and understanding. Arendt's distinction challenges us to think critically about how societies maintain control—whether through coercive force or through shared values—and invites us to consider how violence disrupts this balance. By understanding violence as both a symptom and a cause of power's failure, we can better grasp its complex role in shaping human relations and social structures.

Judith Butler

Judith Butler's work on vulnerability and the body expands this exploration by focusing on the personal impact of violence. For Butler, violence is not just a matter of physical harm; it is also about the dehumanization and degradation of the body. In Precarious Life, she explores how certain lives are deemed less valuable and, therefore, more vulnerable to violence. This vulnerability is not inherent but socially constructed, revealing how systemic forms of violence—such as racism, sexism, and militarism—create hierarchies of worth. By framing violence as an assault on the body and dignity, Butler pushes us to consider the emotional and psychological toll of aggression, as well as the ways in which societies normalize and justify violence against marginalized groups. This perspective encourages a deeper exploration of how violence shapes identity, community, and belonging, and it underscores the need to critically examine our assumptions about who is worthy of protection and who is not.

inspiration

In a sense, you see, fear is still the daughter of God. Redeemed on the night of Good Friday, she is not a sight to behold, sometimes ridiculed, sometimes cursed, abandoned by all.

And yet, do not be mistaken, she is at the bedside of every agony. She intercedes for man because there is the rule and there is the exception. There is culture which is of the rule. There is the exception which is of art. All speak of the rule: cigarettes, computers, t-shirts, television, tourism, war. No one speaks of the exception. That is not said, it is written: Flaubert, Dostoevsky; it is composed: Gershwin, Mozart; it is painted: Cezanne, Vermeer; it is recorded: Antonioni, Vigo or it is lived and then it is the art of living: Sbrenica, Mostar, Sarajevo. It is the rule to want the death of the exception. It will therefore be the rule of the Europe of culture to organize the death of the art of living which still flourishes at our feet.

When it is time to close the book, it will be without regret: I have seen so many people live so badly, and so many people die so well.

​Jean-Luc Godard: "I Salute You, Sarajevo" (1993)

Jean-Luc Godard is a French-Swiss filmmaker who emerged as a prominent figure in the French New Wave cinema movement of the 1960s. He is known for his innovative and experimental approach to filmmaking, characterized by unconventional narrative structures, self-reflexivity, and philosophical inquiry.

Godard's work often explores themes related to society, politics, language, and human relationships. He frequently incorporates textual elements, such as on-screen titles, intertitles, and voiceover narration, to convey ideas, commentary, and philosophical musings. These textual interventions serve as a distinctive feature of his filmmaking style.

In relation to aggression and violence, Godard's films often engage with the subject in a multifaceted manner. Rather than depicting violence in a gratuitous or sensationalistic manner, he explores its underlying causes, consequences, and societal implications.

creative exercise

This prompt is designed to guide you through a process of deep observation, reflection, and creative expression. Let the symbols and scenes you create carry meaning that speaks not just to violence, but to the human experience within and beyond it.
​
1. Start with observation

• Input: Begin by observing real-life symbols of aggression and violence. This could be news footage, historical images, or even everyday scenes that capture subtle forms of conflict—like a shattered window, an empty playground, or a broken object.
• Tool: Visual journaling. Collect or sketch images that speak to you. Pair each with a short description of what they symbolize or evoke emotionally. This practice can help you find the right imagery for your writing.

2. Choose symbolic elements

• Input: Pick a few key symbols that resonate with the theme. These could be objects like barbed wire, cracked mirrors, or abandoned shoes, or natural elements like dark clouds, stormy seas, or wilting flowers.
• Tool: Symbol map. Create a mind map where each symbol branches out into emotions, societal impacts, and personal experiences related to violence. Use this as a foundation to guide your narrative.

3. Write with depth and sensitivity

• Input: Use your observations and symbols to write prose or poetry that reflects on the societal impact of violence. Rather than focusing solely on the act itself, explore the aftermath—the silence, the grief, the way people carry on or are changed by it.
• Tool: Perspective shifting. Write from different points of view—a witness, a survivor, a distant observer. Experiment with how each perspective alters the tone and message of your piece.

4. Integrate poetic language

• Input: Think about how to infuse your writing with a lyrical quality, similar to Godard’s approach. Use metaphor, repetition, and rhythm to create a sense of flow and emotional impact.
• Tool: Poetic devices cheat sheet. Refer to a list of poetic devices—like alliteration, enjambment, and imagery—and experiment with them in your prose or poetry to elevate the language and emotional resonance.

stay grounded and motivated!

"As we bring this writing journey to a close, let's challenge the conventional notion that creativity must be tied to deadlines, expectations, or results. The real power of writing lies in its ability to disrupt, to experiment, to be messy and unpredictable. Whether you engaged fully or just skimmed the surface, you’ve touched something valuable—the freedom to explore without the weight of perfectionism.
​
At the School of Disobedience, we believe that creativity thrives when it’s not confined. There are no "right" ways to write, only ways that are true to you in the moment. Writing should be radical, liberating—a place to resist the demands of productivity culture and embrace the joy of creation for its own sake. Keep pushing boundaries, keep playing with form and language, and most importantly, keep writing. The world needs your voice, not as a polished product, but as a raw, living force. Let’s continue to create spaces where we can be free to experiment, fail, succeed, and imagine. I look forward to what comes next.

​​​​​​​—Anna Ádám
Founder of the School of Disobedience

Photo: Screenshot from Jean-Luc Godard: "I Salute You, Sarajevo" (1993)