Oral History, Cultural Identity and the Arts

Semester and Year	FA 2012
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 ways artistic projects informed by oral history have impacted popular culture. Readings, listening to public radio documentaries, and viewing films will be used to address the balance in accurately reflecting the realities and integrity of the people represented while staying true to the vision of the artist. Readings include (but are not limited to): Art Spiegelman’s Maus I & II  ; Works by Studs Terkel including Working and Will the Circle Be Unbroken ; Greg Halpern’s Harvard Works Because We Do , listening to audio and reading Slave Narratives from Remember Slavery project, Smithsonian; Anna Deveare Smith, and Dave Isay. 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)