Oral History, Cultural Identity and The Arts

Catalog description

Oral history is a complex process in the creation of artistic projects across 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 ethics and 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 and contributed to the larger discussion about race, ethnicity, gender, identity and what makes up a community. Readings, listening to public radio documentaries, and viewing films will be used to address the balance of accuracy and expressive forms in 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; listening to audio and reading slave narratives from Remembering Slavery project recorded in the 1930s, (Smithsonian); Crossing the BLVD, Lehrer/Sloan; Anna Deveare Smith, and projects that address the issues about accountability, the power of listening, poetry from oral histories, and oral narratives that form a collective history. For final projects students create collaborative or solo work in the discipline of their own training; theatre, artist books, dance/movement, photography, poetry, music, radio, audio art, film or video.