Masks and Mirrors with Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Course Title: Masks and Mirrors

Instructor: Jalen Eutsey, A&S '18 (MFA)

Brought to you by Odyssey  

January 29 - March 5, 2026

Thursdays, 6:00PM - 8:00PM ET (6 Sessions)

Virtual via Zoom

Course Description: In this course, we will experiment with techniques to explore the depth of our individual subjectivity, examining ourselves without losing sight of the outside world that grounds and connects us. We will consider the power of metaphor, allusion, and connotation as vehicles for expressing deeply held emotions. Funneling our most urgent concerns through the imaginative landscapes of pop culture, literature, nature, and history can allow us to speak without revealing intimate details of our lives. By engaging in a variety of generative experiments, we’ll embrace the use of metaphorical masks and mirrors, inviting different voices—different “selves”—into our work. We’ll push our “I” to be a flexible, shape-shifting “eye” capable of looking all around us.

We will seek inspiration from acclaimed poets such as Ross Gay, Terrance Hayes, Jaswinder Bolina, Patricia Smith, Louise Glück, Elizabeth Bishop, francine j. harris, Mary Ruefle, Michael Dumanis, and David Berman.

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Johns Hopkins Tuition Remission Policies 

Tuition benefits are available to University faculty, staff, and retirees only. Employees of Johns Hopkins Hospital, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, or the Applied Physics Laboratory should contact your institution’s Human Resources office for information about tuition remission and eligibility:

• Johns Hopkins Hospitals and Medical Institutions: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/human-resources/benefits/tuition-assistance
• Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory: https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers/professional-development

Select the correct ticket pricing during registration. If we cannot confirm your university eligibility, you will be requested to pay the full registration price for each course. Complete eligibility details can be found here.

Withdrawals & Refunds:

If a course is canceled or closed, the registrant is notified immediately, and a full refund is processed automatically unless another course is requested. Registrants who wish to withdraw from an active course must complete the online Odyssey Refund Request Form. Attach any documentation to support your request (e.g., medical documentation, family crisis documentation, etc.).

• 100% refund: Prior to the start of the course and after the first class.
• No refunds: After the first week of each course unless in exceptional cases.

For single-session courses:
100% refundable within two (2) business days of the event.

Please note, refunds apply only to the tuition portion of an Odyssey participant’s charges and are not applicable to any fees or gifts made to the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association. Registrants will be notified by email if a refund is approved within five (5) business days.