Shenzhen University: A Special Lesson of Creative Writing in Poetry

"Winter's arrival, impending snow, care for a glass of wine?" During the Winter Solstice season, as part of the series of academic activities celebrating the 40th anniversary of Shenzhen University's founding, on the evening of December 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM, in the warm atmosphere of open Shenzhen University's Humanities Building (Room 1200), the renowned poet Ms. Lin Funa delivered an academic lecture on "Creative Poetry Writing and Appreciation." Then she was invited to participate as a guest in the activities "Dialogue with Poets" and "Poetry Performance." Local poets from Shenzhen, poets from Singapore, an Irish playwright, as well as some teachers and students from Shenzhen University attended the event.

The poetry event was organized and planned by Professor Zhang Guangkui of Shenzhen University's " Center for Poetry and Drama" and was divided into three sections: "Master Lecture," "Dialogue with Poets" and "Poetry Performance." At the beginning of the event, Ms. Lin Funa, a nationally renowned writer, literary critic of the Guangdong Writers' Association, creative writing instructor at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and a famous poet, delivered an academic lecture on "Creative Poetry Writing and Appreciation." Ms. Lin, in a clear and engaging manner, used examples to explain the elements of poetry writing and how to engage in creative poetry writing. During the lecture, Ms. Lin specifically quoted Professor Zhang Guangkui's new work, a visual poem titled "I Am a Little Bird," illustrating the dialectical relationship between the form and content of visual poetry.

As the event progressed to the "Dialogue with Poets " section, hosted by Professor Zhang Guangkui, prominent Chinese poet Ms. Lin Funa, Shenzhen poets and Professor Liu Zhaohui and Xiao Xiaojun from Shenzhen Polytechnic, Professor Wang Hongyan from Shenzhen University, and Dr. Zeng Rong, among others, engaged in a lively discussion on the functions of poetry, AI poetry writing, and the importance of "Creative Writing" courses. The discussions and viewpoints of the poets and experts provided a fresh perspective for the participants and students, expanding their understanding of literature and poetry writing. In the final part of this section, Professor Zhang Guangkui called for Chinese universities (especially Chinese and foreign language departments, including general education courses), and even primary and secondary schools, to actively offer "Creative Writing" courses, highlighting the importance of creative writing in a well-rounded education.

Another highlight of the event was the third section, "Poetry Interpretation." Firstly, the famous poet Ms. Lin Funa recited her original poem "New Year's Eve" in her hometown's Guangdong Chaoshan dialect, allowing the audience to experience the unique charm of poetry. Shenzhen University graduate student Ma Yibo, with heartfelt recitation and melodious singing, interpreted Shakespeare's "Sonnet 18," immersing the audience in the classic work of Shakespeare. Poet Xiao Xiaojun's original poem "A Note on Bamboo Living," poet Liu Zhaohui's original poem "Listening to the Whispers of the Wind," and Dr. Zeng Rong's recitation of Japanese poet Shinkawa Kazue's "Don't Tie Me Up" were presented through various forms of recitation and performance, providing the audience with a beautiful poetic experience. The host, graduate student Wang Ruixu, delivered a passionate recitation performance, interpreting Li Bai's classic work "To the Tune of 'Coming to the Feast.'" Tibetan girl Dan Zeng Qu Zhen and Wei Qiuting respectively interpreted Duan Zhijia's "Grassland Love Song" in Tibetan and recited and performed "Shui Diao Ge Tou · Ming Yue Ji Shi You" in Cantonese, praising the unique natural scenery and rich cultural history of China in their dialects.

Finally, Professor Zhang Guangkui recited Ms. Lin Funa’s poem "Carrying the Mountains and Rivers of the World on My Body," and Professor Wang Hongyan sang the Mongolian song "Ulan Bator," bringing the event to a climax and concluding it on a perfect note. On this romantic winter night, in addition to the intellectual feast, poets and poetry enthusiasts enjoyed a poetry performance feast featuring languages including Chinese, English, Japanese, French, Tibetan, and various dialects. The subtle yet dynamic beauty of language and words, conveyed through recitation, singing, and performance, conveyed rich and enduring emotions. This event provided the audience with a colorful audio-visual feast and served as a strong call for strengthening the construction of "Creative Writing" courses in school education. It was also a sincere tribute to the 40th anniversary of the founding of Shenzhen University.

             School of International Studies, Poetry and Drama Center at Shenzhen University