Community Driven Media Making
What impact does sharing a documentary audio story, oral history, or other multimedia have on the people or communities represented within that medium? With a specific focus on audio-production, this two-week online course is for anyone interested in using digital media and community interviewing as tools for social engagement and change.
Over the course of two weeks participants will conduct a virtual oral history interview as part of an active community research project (facilitated by VFC - see below for a description of this year’s research focus) and work from that interview recording to edit and complete a polished, digital audio story. Independent lab time to work on crafting audio stories with feedback from instructors is included in the course hours. Along the way we’ll discuss:
Informed consent
Release forms
Ethics of representation
Archiving and media storage
Creative strategies for community engagement through media making
Participants must have access to a computer with Zoom capabilities and the capacity to install the digital audio workstation Hindenburg PRO (access to a 3-month trial is included with registration.) Interviews will be recorded over Zoom. Access to digital recording equipment is not required but may be helpful in producing final audio stories. A smartphone is also a perfectly acceptable substitute for a digital audio recorder.
For anyone doing community-engaged work this course will help you develop collaborative projects using documentary and multimedia.
Schedule
Online sessions: Mondays & Thursdays, 3:00-5:30pm EST, October 31 + November 3, November 7 + 10 and 5 hrs independent lab time.
Tuition and Graduate Credit:
Course fees are on a sliding scale ranging between $275 - $525. There is the option to take this course for 1-graduate credit for an additional $125. Financial Aid is available (email education@vermontfolklifecenter.org for more information)
2022 Research Theme: Community Schooling
The context for fieldwork practice and exercises during the course will be the “Vermont Town Schools Project,” an active community-based research effort supported by the Folklife Center. This project seeks to explore the relationship between towns and local schools through the creation of a community-led oral history collection.
An interest in the topic of community school is not a prerequisite; all fieldwork and interview skills practiced within the context of the Vermont Town Schools Project will be applicable to other projects.
Cancellation Policy
No refunds after October 17, 2022. Written cancellation notice (email or snail mail) must be received by that date for a refund minus a $25 administrative fee.