Identity & Artistry

A Course Description for Life

Chris Coleman, Holly Williams, and Charlie Peacock, Identity & Artistry classroom, Lipscomb University, Nashville, Tennessee, October 15th, 2015

Do you like to begin your new year with a clean computer desktop? Maybe even risk life and limb by tossing out those 14,607 emails in your inbox? I do. I also do this thing where I take stuff off my laptop in a compressed bundle of files and folders and label it Sent Upstairs 1.09.24. As in, literally sent upstairs to a server or Archive HD 6. Somehow, clearing space on my laptop is akin to doing the same in my brain.

There’s a problem with giving these old files new, individual attention, though. Sometimes they’re not digital dust bunnies to be swept away, but nuggets of knowledge you might want to keep close—continue to value—put on the fridge with a magnet.

I found one of these files this morning. It’s a syllabus from the Identity and Artistry Seminar I created and taught at Lipscomb University—School of Music—College of Entertainment & the Arts.

Read for yourself:

Identity and Artistry is designed to assist the student in forming an initial creative direction for his or her undergraduate experience, preparing the student to be an imaginative cultural contributor (regardless of academic major or vocational interest). The course focuses on identifying the student’s personality type and gift set, analyzing the student’s creative influences shaped by family, community and world, and naming the particulars of how identity and imagination have been formed in the student to date. Additionally, the course emphasizes the development of artistic principles and vocabulary, the role of the imagination in creative work, and training in analytical/observational skills.

Students are required to choose and declare one personal subject of interest to accompany their academic experience (“companion interest”). The companion interest must be unrelated to the student’s major or academic interests, e.g. organic farming, cycling, or fashion. Students will be taught to tease out the creative commonalities and interdependence between their academic interest and their companion interest. Course involves reflection, writing, listening, observation and group interaction.

My first thought was: I would take this class. Of course I would! It’s the story of how I became an artist and citizen. I’m not going to unpack it for you. Better to leave it to you should you desire to make the trek from reading, to understanding, to activation of these ideas. Even so, if you have a question, post it. I’m here to respond.

One of the things I learned as an autodidact professor is that accrediting bodies overseeing educational institutions don’t let outliers like me just make stuff up without what are called learning outcomes. I have real professors like Donna King and Dr. Sally Reid to thank for holding my hand through the process. So, I came up with some and passed the test.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Enjoy their undergraduate experience with greater confidence and focus

2. Evaluate and understand their abilities and interests more clearly

3. Experience greater self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses

4. Better understand the critical role of imagination and creativity in society

5. Articulate in writing, thoughtful analysis, critique, and vision casting

I haven’t taught this course in years. But I continue to live it and learn from it. If it’s your desire and interest to do the same, sincerely, reach out here, and keep reading below.

Sifting through this syllabus again helps me succinctly articulate something I’ve wanted to share with you. The core idea of creative commonalities and interdependence between all that we love and put our energies to, is at the heart of our new book, Why Everything That Doesn’t Matter, Matter’s So Much. It truly is a book about identity and artistry and offers something of a course description for life from two broken but hopeful people, perhaps a little further down the road.

This Friday, January 12th I’ll be posting again to let you know more about the book. Our publisher is turning us loose and providing us with lots of details to share. In short, the marketing and promotion machine is revving up. But, if you know Andi and I well, we will do our part without being heavy-handed. It’s just not our way. We don’t mind having helpful information shared but we don’t like being sold to. If you ever see us cross the line, holler. We will take it as helpful information.

Toward that end, here’s some housekeeping:

1) If you have yet to answer a short query to help with the book launch and add your name, address and email, please do. If you’re a Substack reader then you’ve already provided an email and it is secure and private (only used by us)—additional info you provide on the form is still very useful to us.

2) If you are a Tennessean or within driving distance to Nashville and want to attend the day of release launch event at Parnassus Books, we recommend signing up HERE immediately. There are 140 seats, that’s it. Book comes with ticket price.

Thank you friends. Have a great rest of the week. See you again on Friday.