David Radavich taught literature and writing at the college level for over 35 years. He began at the University of Kansas, then taught back-to-back Fulbright Lectureships at the Universitaet Stuttgart, West Germany. He returned to the U.S. for a position at Iowa State University, followed by 26 years at Eastern Illinois University. Special interests included drama, poetry writing, eighteenth-century British literature, and world mythology.
Since retirement, Radavich has continued giving presentations and workshops at schools, churches, universities, libraries, and other locations.
Current Workshop Topics:
Arranging a Poetry Collection: A workshop on organizing a collection utilizing principles from music and other art forms to create a dynamic shape.
Art Speaking Through Poetry: This is an ekphrastic workshop to explore ways that poetry can react to and build upon works of the visual arts.
Blending Genres in Lyric Poetry: A workshop on incorporating elements of fiction, drama, and non-fiction into lyric poetry in order to enhance its impact.
Enacting Your Drama: A workshop reviewing playwriting theory and developing a ten-minute play from scratch.
Juicing Your Imagery: A workshop on developing vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbol.
Making Music in Your Poems: A workshop exploring rhythmic strategies to enhance the impact of poetic ideas, impressions, and emotions.
Poetry as Political Speech: A workshop contextualizing poetry in the larger world of social issues.
Polishing the Poem: A workshop focused on revision and heightening for the reading audience.
The Self in the Poem: A workshop examining the dramatic personae and dialogic interactions inside poems.
Shaping the Poem: A workshop exploring visual representations in poetic lines and stanzas.
Unlocking the Drama in Your Poetry: A workshop on enhancing the dramatic components of emotionally rich lyric poetry.
The World of Myths: A multi-part exploration of global narratives that embody the beliefs and values of diverse communities.