Multimedia Uses of Oral History

This course explores multimedia uses of oral history, with an emphasis on writing for oral history-based radio, television, and film documentaries. Students will learn basic techniques of oral history interviewing and will be responsible for conducting two oral history interviews that will serve as the basis for a major writing project and for an end-of-semester multimedia exhibit. Although this is primarily a writing workshop in which work will be discussed, we will also go on several field trips in order to conduct interviews locally. Readings will include Driss ben Hamed Charhadi, Joseph Mitchell, Donald A. Ritchie, Doris Lessing, Clarice Lispector, and Studs Terkel. Screenings will include Harlan County USA, Common Threads, Licensed to Kill, A Walk Into the Sea: Danny Williams and the Warhol Factory, and Animal Love.