Coursera

Storying the Self: How Stories Shape our Identities (Coursera)

Offered by University of Colorado Boulder,
Storying the Self: How Stories Shape our Identities (Coursera)

Explore how artists have come to understand their identities over time, through creative media and scholarly discussions. You will connect with your own sources of creative inspiration, and revisit a major moment in your life that has shaped who you are and how you understand yourself, with the invitation to engage with this story through literary analysis and creative expression. Discover how these themes and theories help leaders understand their own and others’ identities across the full range of human diversity, as they show up in workplaces and relationships.

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Course 1 of 3 in the Storying the Self for Leadership and Creativity Specialization.

What You Will Learn

  • Reflect on how our own life experiences and identities have shaped us as leaders and creators.
  • Connect course material to our lives, including prior knowledge and experiences.
  • Analyze life story texts/media.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
What is the 'Self'?
Engage with different ideas of a 'self' and explore creative practices that can help you consider your own life experiences in new ways.

WEEK 2
Diving into our Stories
Consider how our social identities shape our lives and what we 'know.'

WEEK 3
Stories as Openings
Dive into the past as we imagine different possible futures through Dr. Stephanie Toliver's work combining storytelling and justice in ways that blend and defy genre and form.

WEEK 4
Shaping a Story of Self
Consider the importance of context as a way stories are shaped and understood, and explore stories in your own life that engage sensory experiences and responses.

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