Oral history is one of the most important human traditions. It conveys legends, great and small victories over adversity and covers all civilizations, all human lives, anonymous or not.
This course will cover the basics of storytelling and writing before delving into the little-known nuggets of oral history. It is important to understand that humanity survives through books and the stories we tell each other when books are banned or burned.
What makes a good oral history? How to capture it? How to guide it? How do you transcribe it?
We are surrounded by oral stories that are waiting to be told. Which ones will you choose to unveil?
William ROGER
Atelier
English
None
Spring 2021-2022
This course will be evaluated by three graded assignments, in different media, depending on the stories chosen by the students. The last assignment must be written.
- Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression by Studs Terkel OR The Good War (An Oral History of WW II) by Studs Terkel OR Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do by Studs Terkel
- True Tales of American Life (First published under the title I Thought My Father Was God, and Other True Tales from NPR's National Story Project) by Paul Auster
- Stand By Me (movie) by Rob Reiner
- THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION (movie) by Frank Darabont
- Mayrig (movie) by Henri Verneuil
- Joni Mitchell — Both Sides Now (album)
- The Beatles - Sgt Pepper Lonely's hearts club band (album)