Writing Workshops

The Art of Cultural Criticism: Writing Through Reflection and Identity with Christina Santi

$545

8 sessions

Out of stock

Once a week Wednesdays, 6:00 pm EDT - 8:00 pm EDT July 9 to August 27, 2025

Online via Zoom

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In a culture saturated with content, the role of the critic has never been more vital. This workshop introduces students to the art of cultural criticism through the lens of identity, memory, and society.

Each week features a discussion-based session guided by provocative readings from diverse writers such as Hilton Als, Zadie Smith, Danyel Smith, and Hanif Abdurraqib. Alongside our readings, students will write weekly reflections, respond to writing prompts, and engage in low-stakes exercises to develop their voice. These pieces will build toward two formal cultural critiques—one mid-course and one final—which will be workshopped in a feedback-driven, supportive environment. The course is designed to help participants learn how to develop an essay organically, refining their ideas over time through conversation and craft.

Course Outline:

Week 1: What Is Cultural Criticism
- We begin by defining cultural criticism and exploring how personal voice, identity, and history shape how we observe the world.
Week 2: Fashion as Language
- Style as self-expression, power play, and cultural commentary. We’ll unpack how fashion operates as both art and argument.
Week 3: Food & Memory
- Food writing as emotional archive and cultural record. We’ll look at how eating, cooking, and gathering shape identity.
Week 4: Film & Television as Mirrors
- Visual storytelling, representation, and politics. We’ll explore how what we watch reflects and constructs the culture we live in.
Week 5: Music, Movement & Meaning
- Lyrics, rhythm, and memory. We’ll read music writing that captures cultural shifts, emotional truth, and personal transformation.
Week 6: Sports as Storytelling
- Athletes as cultural figures and bodies as battlegrounds. We’ll explore race, gender, and legacy through sports criticism.
Week 7: Art & Aesthetics in Everyday Life
- What is art? Who gets to decide? This session looks at how visual culture and design influence our values, perceptions, and sense of beauty.
Week 8: Writing the Now & Workshop
- Students will submit original cultural critiques and give/receive peer feedback. We’ll reflect on voice, ethics, and sustaining a practice.

Level: Introductory

This course will be held online via Zoom.

Led by

Christina Santi

Christina Santi

Christina Santi is a writer from the Bronx, New York who explores culture, identity, and memory through storytelling. Her work blends journalistic insight with lyrical precision to amplify underrepresented voices, and has been featured in EBONY, WayMaker Journal, and Demeter Press. With a background in both editorial and communications strategy, Christina brings a nuanced, accessible approach to writing that bridges the personal and the political.

About this series

Writing Workshops

We strive to make our classes the most inviting and rewarding available, offering an intimate environment to study with award-winning, world-class writers. Each class is specially designed by the instructor, so whether you’re a fledgling writer or an MFA graduate polishing your novel, you’ll find a perfect fit here.

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