Department of English

Now 92 years old, there have been few cultural figures with the historical impact of visual artist and performer Yoko Ono. Across a career spanning seven decades, she has redefined the fields of music, film, sculpture, writing, and performance. Her message as has been consistently social and political, propelling her onto a stage much bigger than the artworld. As a pioneering feminist Japanese-American artist, her influence and impact has been vast, expanding the definition of who and what an artist can be.

This class will dive into the life, work, and legacy of Ono. Through an in-depth exposure to her artistic and political output, we will take inspiration to create our own written works. Her highly unconventional methods will inspire and awaken the adventurous and avant-garde impulses within ourselves, pushing us to create works of literature that we never could’ve imagined. Along the way, we’ll meet up with her collaborators in the worlds of music, film, literature, and visual art, including John Lennon, The Beatles, Fluxus, Sonic Youth, Andy Warhol, and many others.