The Art of Protest

Is Mike Ladd an activist poet? He is quoted as saying in In Daily that: “It’s a delicate balance. You don’t want to lecture people or turn something into a rant – so, I’m not an activist poet in that sense, but I’m a poet that is also an activist..." Mike will inddulge those thoughts as to how to be an activist poet at the end of this month...

Using examples from Bertolt Brecht, Jack Davis, Kate Llewellyn, Bonnie Henderson, Pablo Neruda and others, Mike Ladd will discuss how to use wit, imagination, humour, satire and passion in the art of protest writing. Mike will then lead a writing exercise and feedback session to explore your own protest poems.

Mike Ladd is a poet, essayist and reviewer. He has published ten collections of poetry and prose, including the natural history haibun Karrawirra Parri, Walking the Torrens from Source to Sea (2012) and Dream Tetras (2022) an experimental collaboration with visual artist Cathy Brooks. Mike worked for ABC Radio for nearly forty years and was the editor of Radio National’s Poetica program. His new and selected poems Now Then (2025) is published by Wakefield Press.

Cost: $30/$25 conc.

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