Saturday, March 19, 2011

Artist Talk: Courtney James

Photo via the The Black Girl Project.

Who?
My name is Courtney James, but many know me as Bonnie. I am a senior at the City College of New York and I will be graduating in May with a Baccalaureates degree in English and Journalism, and a Certificate in Publishing.

Where are you from?
I am a New Yorker, born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn but my ethnic background is that of the West Indies. My mother and father are natives of Jamaica, W.I.

What do you call yourself (writer, rapper, photographer, etc)?
I am proud to label myself as an aspiring writer who has somewhat realistic dreams of becoming an Editor for trade paperback books

How do you create (your inspiration)?
I create through ranting. Anything that is on my mind is what I would consider important. Some may call it a ramble but I feel as though the process of thinking is, in itself, a gift that everyone should delve into.

Why do you do it?
I began write to clear my mind. I started out by constantly writing lists, that of which I still do to this day. However, I began to practice my love for creative writing while I was in high school. At this time, I was more into finding a world I could call my own. I had no problems with identity while a student in high school but writing took me to a place that could only be dictated through me. This is still the reason why I write. Because though people may judge my work, there is still the underlying factor of why I wrote it in the first place.

Are you currently working on anything?
I am currently working on my own personal narrative. I am contemplating ways of doing this but I feel like I'll most likely interpret it through a number of vignettes. I will post it when I am done and it is revised my my Fiction Workshop instructor.

Advice you would give a young Artist?
Don't worry about what other people will say because while one person will give you a thumbs up, ten more will give you a thumbs up. Also, always try to seek an inspiration for what you do or else, when asked to explain your masterpiece, you may find yourself stumbling for words and this may lead you to question yourself. Something you do NOT want.

What does the name of your blog, Soliloquy to be Broken, mean?
Soliloquy, in the dictionary, is basically the act of one talking to himself/herself. If you have heard of "Colloquy" or colloquialism, Soliloquy is the opposite of Colloquy.  It is, in many ways, one being oblivious to the listeners around him. I knew when I began this blog, that I would be a "loner". I was not hype about gaining followers (and I still am not). However, a writer always has that dream of breaking the wall of silence and fusing it with listeners. I hope to create "Colloquy" through my blog so in essence I am trying to break Soliloquy...Hence the name

I plan on traveling outside of NYC twice this year. Where would you recommend I travel to in the US?
Please visit Philly. Their culture of music and food will make you fall in love all over again!


To view some of Courtney's work click here.

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