As noted in class today, you can test possible topics by doing keyword searches in the Excel file (OralHistoryMetadata.xls). If you’re having trouble thinking of topics on your own, consider the following idea. As you consider your five potential topics, I suggest that you also look at the topics covered in zones 1-3 of the Euclid Corridor at http://www.riderta.com/kiosk/content/csu/. You might also want to look at existing exhibits that relate to the downtown area (or nearby neighborhoods) in Teaching + Learning Cleveland at http://csudigitalhumanities.org/exhibits/exhibits. That will give you some ideas about places/events that may be represented in the oral histories. It’s okay to pursue topics that are covered on these sites because I will assume that your project will find its own original angle as it develops through your research. Feel free to email me with questions/ideas in the coming days. And, remember to read your syllabus closely! Some questions may be answered there.
Project Timeline
This project timeline (PDF) divides the project into its four major components: Sound Clips, Images, Research/Papers, and Mini Documentaries. Light green text boxes point to training days and times when we’ll “crowd source” feedback. Black arrows point to due dates. The purpose of the timeline is to give you a quick reference on what you should be doing at any given time during the semester, but it is not intended to replace your close reading of the syllabus and any additional instructions provided in class or on this blog.
Click to download PDF file: HIS511_timeline
To Do for Sept. 9: Searching Oral History Logs
As explained in your syllabus, you’ll select your project topic by first searching the oral history logbook (which you’ll download by clicking the link below) to find material relating to 5 prospective topics that you want to consider.
Click to download: OralHistoryMetadata
Click on the image below to download a full-size screenshot that demonstrate how to do a keyword search in the Excel-based logbook. I suggest printing the screenshot to avoid toggling between windows on your screen. (Note that the screenshot shows Excel as it appears in Windows. To initiate your search in the Mac version, go to Edit and select Find from the drop-down menu.)
September 7: Oral History
For today’s class, read the “Introduction to Oral History” Manual, a PDF file found on the Baylor University’s oral history website. To access, click “Introduction to Oral History” at the bottom of the box at right labeled “Manual” (as shown in the screenshot below). In class we will examine the nuts and bolts of doing oral history, from planning a project to setting up, preparing for, and conducting interviews, to analyzing the resulting recordings.
September 2: Digital Humanities/Curating the City
Today, from 4 to 4:30, we will consider why public history matters. In preparation, please read the selections from Linenthal (on ECR) and Glassberg (in the book Sense of History) ~ 28 pages total (~45 minutes).
From 4:30 to 5, we will examine digital humanities as a growing form of public history, consider some of the advantages of creating public history in the digital realm, and look at some examples of using digital history to “curate” whole cities. In preparation, peruse (quickly!) the following (~50 page total, or 60 minutes):
Cohen & Rosenzweig, Digital History:
Introduction: Promises and Perils of Digital History: chnm.gmu.edu/digitalhistory/introduction/
Exploring the History Web: chnm.gmu.edu/digitalhistory/exploring/
Final Thoughts: chnm.gmu.edu/digitalhistory/finalthoughts/
Patricia Cohen, “Scholars Test Web Alternative to Sacred Rite of Peer Review,” New York Times, August 23, 2010: www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/arts/24peer.html (2 pages, ~5 minutes)
For examples of map-based multimedia exhibits that seek to reshape public understanding of cities, explore these sites, navigating each long enough (~10 minutes each, or ~40 minutes total) to learn how it functions and what it offers:
PhilaPlace: www.philaplace.org
City of Memory: www.cityofmemory.org
Curating the City: Wilshire Blvd: www.curatingthecity.org
Euclid Corridor History Project: www.riderta.com/kiosk/content/csu/
View each of the mini documentaries that will be featured in Curating Cleveland and Mobile Cleveland, and make a note of your observations: www.youtube.com/user/csudigitalhumanities (~15 minutes)
From 5 to 5:40 we will look at the basics of the course project and focus in some detail on first steps. In preparation, please read the syllabus section on “Assignments.”
Thus, you should plan to spend about 3 hours preparing for Thursday.
August 31: Some Words About Reading for This Course
As noted on your syllabus, I expect that you will read actively throughout the semester and comment on your observations, insights, and questions that arise from your reading. At least once every week, plan to add your own original comment on any one or more reading selections on the post for either the Tuesday or Thursday class meeting’s scheduled reading assignment. To do so, just click on “comments beneath the post. If you’re the first to comment, you’ll click instead on “No Comments Yet.” Otherwise, the link will indicate the number of comments already posted (e.g., “6 comments”). You must always be logged in to comment by name, which is necessary in order to get credit.
Welcome!
This is the course blog for HIS 311/511. It’s the place to access course assignments, instructions, announcements, and a PDF copy of the course syllabus. I will generally post instructions for daily reading and discussion two weeks before they appear in the syllabus. Thus, on August 31, the first day of class, you will find instructions through September 14. You are always encouraged to comment on my blog posts and on each other’s posts. At certain points later in the semester I will ask you to add your own posts to the blog as well. As the blog administrator, I will ensure that all comments/posts on the blog are of a professional nature, and respectful tone by removing any that are not. I hope you will find the blog a useful tool this semester.
msouther