Oral History, Cultural Identity and the Arts

Semester and Year	FA 2011
Course Number	ARTS-UG1045
Section	001
Instructor	Judith Sloan
Days	Mon
Time	6:20 PM - 9:00 PM
Units	4.0
Level	U
Foundation Requirement

Description

Oral History is a complex process in the creation of artistic projects across the disciplines: documentary film, theatre, book arts, exhibitions, interactive websites, public radio, etc. This course offers training in interviewing and editing techniques, and looks at the impact of “truth-telling” on the people we interview, their families and friends, ourselves and the culture at large. Research explores the balance in accurately reflecting the realities and integrity of the people represented while staying true to the vision of the artist/creator and addresses some of the following questions: Who has a right to a story? How do we represent people with experiences different than our own? What are the nuances in understanding needed for representing people in our own culture and identity or those from a different cultural or class background? Readings include (but are not limited to): John Bowe’s Gig ; Art Spiegelman’s Maus I & II ; Warren Lehrer and Judith Sloan’s Crossing the BLVD ; Jim Fricke and Charlie Ahearn’s Oral History of Hip-Hop ’ s First Decade Yes Yes Y ’ all ; as well as works by Studs Terkel, Anna Deveare Smith, and articles and theory on oral history as a field of study. Guest lectures by multimedia artists in the field of oral history and storytelling, as well as viewing of films, interactive websites, and listening to public radio projects will be included in the weekly class sessions. For final projects students create collaborative or solo work in the discipline of their own training; theatre, artist books, photography, poetry, music, radio, audio art, film or video.

Course Type

Arts Workshops (ARTS-UG)