At MSA, students are given the opportunity to take classes outside of their chosen discipline. This was one of the most appealing things about MSA to me when I was first applying to go, as I enjoy writing, acting, and filmmaking, but couldn’t be a Literary, Theatre, and Media. It’s definitely a great option to have for a school of kids who are multitalented!
But you may be wondering “But what is it actually like to take a class outside of your discipline?”
I (a Media) have been taking a Literary Playwriting/Intermediate Fiction as apart of my second-semester classes at MSA and after experiencing as much as I could (pre-Coronavirus), I have learned a lot that I’d like to share.
Firstly, I’m definitely not a Literary. I auditioned for Literary because I do enjoy writing, but after experiencing a Literary class for myself, I do think that becoming Media was the right option for me.
Writing is a very isolated thing. It’s not a group project, it’s something you have to do on your own. That’s is no way a bad thing, but it’s just not for me. I’m not necessarily an outgoing person, but I do enjoy working with other people. This is why my favorite part of the class was the workshop! I’ve never gotten feedback on my writing like I did during workshops. Everyone’s unique perspectives and options helped me to see my work in a whole new light. It’s forever changed not only how I view my work, but also how I ask other people to view my work when editing.
I’ve also enjoyed blogging a lot more than I thought I would. When writing a play or a short story, you have to have characters, a well-structured plot, a setting, etc. It’s a lot to keep up with and can become stressful at times. But with blogging, it’s just me and my thought, which is a lot easier to write. I honestly find blogging very enjoyable and even relaxing!
So overall, I think that everyone at MSA should try at least one class outside of their discipline if they can. It’s a great way to access your strengths in another field, and if you’re like me, it’s a good way of also assuring that the discipline you chose was in fact the right one for you. You can also end up gaining an appreciation for other disciplines and the people in them!
Lol, it was a joy having other disciplines in the class. I hope you decide to take another literary class!
I agree, it’s always nice to branch out and try something a bit different than the norm. I personally have thought about taking mixed media or something. Or even a dance class.
Yes! I felt some of the same things you felt in taking Mixed Media. It’s definitely not Literary, and I’m definitely not a Visual! And you’re absolutely right about it allowing you to appreciate other disciplines more.