M. Benci
Writer, versed in creative arts
about
I received my Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing from Bowling Green State University, where I had earlier received my Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree also in Creative Writing. During those years at BGSU, I additionally studied visual arts (drawing and painting). After a teaching career while in early semi-retirement, I attended Pacifica Graduate Institute where I received my Master of Arts (MA) degree in Depth Psychology in Jungian and Archetypal Studies. My specialization within DP is as a mythopoetic analyst and writer in the arts which compliments my earlier experiences doing literary explication. While teaching, I "moonlighted" as an arts and entertainment journalist primarily in A & E, yet also wrote human and community interest stories along with a weekly A & E events column and a community events column. I enjoyed all the networking and fascinating conversations the job entailed. Lastly, I will include that In my youth and onwards, I enjoyed studies in piano (classical through modern) and classical dance (ballet) and have worked with music with children in preschools and developed music curriculum. In addition to doing my own creative work, one of my biggest pleasures in life has been promoting the arts and art education.
In my M.BENCI NEWS blog, I share news, thoughts, and inspiration regarding my current writings and publications.
In my A & E blog, I share my thoughts about books, films, articles, music, visual arts, dance, and more. Please note that this feature will arrive on August 1 as it is under construction. Thank you!
Some people ask me about the connection between the arts and writing and depth psychology. I find that a "text" can be a book or article or poem, a visual piece of art, a piece of music and/or a dance, and even a scene in nature or a landscape can be read as text. I had years of experience in creative writing workshops, poetics, and explication, and in teaching literary analysis, and found that depth psychological and mythopoetic analysis is much the same, with an added Jungian twist. In either case, whether as a writer or as a depth psychologist/mythopoetic analyst, I read symbols, whether the symbols in a story or a film or a dance or piece of music, or the symbols of dreams of one's psyche. I especially enjoy dream interpretation and daydreams--writing is a lot like daydreaming. Poetry, art, dreams, and myth all share a same language.
Thank you for visiting my site and for reading my viewpoints,
M. Benci
written publications
The Man in the Moon
Children's Book (2011)
When we are little our parents point out to us the eyes, nose, and mouth of the moon and tell us that is the face of The Man in the Moon. This book is about the legendary character called The Man in the Moon. In these pages we see that The Man in the Moon is a good guy who wants good things for us. While it is a bedtime story for younger children, older children might enjoy it too. (Released in 2011.)
A Child's Edenic Dream: The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker Ballet
Paper (2015)
https://www.depthinsights.com/Depth-Insights-scholarly-ezine/a-childs-edenic-dream-dance-of-the-sugar-plum-fairy-in-the-nutcracker-balletby-mary-ann-bencivengo/
A Child in the Old World Asks Her Mother Where Babies Come From and This is the Reply:
Poem published in Depth Insights Issue # 7 Spring/Summer, on page 36. LINK: https://issuu.com/bonniebright/docs/depthinsights-issue7-springsummer20
Pandora Addresses Evil, With Regrets
Poem Published in Depth Insights Magazine, Issue 8 Fall-Winter 2016, p. 57. LINK: https://issuu.com/bonniebright/docs/depthinsights-issue8-fallwinter2015
media/videos
This is a recent video presentation I did for the Sandusky Library, Sandusky, OH as posted on YouTube. This one addresses the violence in Hansel and Gretel for an adult audience.
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This is one of my recent presentations on fairy tales I did with the Sandusky Library as posted on YouTube about the violence in different versions of Cinderella, for an adult audience.
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Death and Peach Brandy (A very short short story) on You Tube with the Huron Public Library Storytellers
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The given poem was forwarded by Mary to JCF MRT Group of Mumbai as blessings and good wishes. In India; we start any auspicious activity by worshiping Lord Ganesha. Thus the poem was shared and read before starting 1st session of JCF MRT Group of Mumbai; India. We do not claim copyrights of this video. The background music is "New Beginnings by Future World Music" and the Poem is written by "Mary Ann Bencivengo." --Sindhu Veda Research Institute
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Here is a link to a You Tube presentation I did on fairy tales titled, "Hansel and Gretel's Perilous Journey and Why We Love Scary Stories."
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- Huron, Ohio, United States
Hello, please call me at this # or else email me at this address and I will get with you asap. Thank you.
