In this program, we will engage media making as an experiential, embodied practice of social and political action. We will explore participatory and collaborative media production guided by community priorities, seeking to contribute to community endeavors regarding youth, basic needs such as food and housing, education, immigrant rights, and LGBTQ+ resilience, among others. Students interested in documentary film, interviewing, journalism and broadcasting, persuasive videos, and experimental and expressive media should see this as an exciting opportunity, as should those interested broadly in community organizations' potential for making positive change. We will emphasize storytelling techniques, critical reflection, media documentation for communities, and participatory action research (a collaborative, practical approach).
Our 8-credit classroom core will focus on the theory and practice of community work, development of media skills, critical engagement with documentary, and ongoing project and reflection work. Classroom activities include presentations, seminars, and workshops. We will also participate as a program in Farmworker Justice Day, the Evergreen Equity Symposium, and Window Seat Media's Pride Storytelling launch. In addition, students will have two 4-credit learning opportunities and may do one (for a total of 12 credits) or both (for a total of 16 credits).
(a) Students may undertake 4-credit in-program internships or volunteer opportunities with community organizations. Through embedding with the organization for 10 hours/week, you will build relationships and contexts for producing some form of media that serves the organization (as mutually agreed upon with them). This may be audio (podcast) or video, or it may take some other form (newsletter, zine, or other materials, activities, or curriculum). Students should begin work with faculty and organizations on proposals before the quarter begins; details of the internship will be finalized early in the quarter.
(b) Students may undertake a 4-credit practicum in television production to learn the processes of producing independent nonfiction television programming in Evergreen’s CCAM TV Studio. We will cover all phases and roles, including directing, camera, sound, graphics, lighting, and on-air talent. Based on pre-production discussions and script work in the first 3 weeks, the group will collaboratively produce 2-4 pilots about community organizations in the remaining weeks of the quarter. Additional contributions will go into a script bank for future programming.
Spring quarter will culminate in sharing collaborative outcomes and reflections on our all work with community partners.
Anticipated Credit Equivalencies:
4 - Film and Media Studies: Critical Approaches to Documentary
4 - Cultural Studies: Community-Based Learning
4 - Video Production: Television Broadcasting [for students choosing this module]
4 - Internship: description of your internship [for students choosing this module]
Registration
Students interested in the 4-credit in-program internship option should begin work with faculty and organizations on proposals before the quarter begins; details of the internship will be finalized early in the quarter. Contact faculty members Alice Nelson (nelsona@evergreen.edu) and Diego Zavala-Scherer (Diego.Zavala_Scherer@evergreen.edu) for information.
Academic Details
media studies and media production, education, community development, qualitative and community-based research, social services and non-profits, and communications.
$250 fee covers field trips field trips ($100), media and art project supplies ($50) and a required media fee ($100).
Students may undertake 4-credit in-program internships or volunteer opportunitieswith community organizations during spring quarter. Through embedding with the organization for 10 hours/week, you will build relationships and contexts for producing some form of media that serves the organization (as mutually agreed upon with them). This may be audio (podcast) or video, or it may take some other form (newsletter, zine, or other materials, activities, or curriculum). Students should begin work with faculty and organizations on proposals before the quarter begins; details of the internship will be finalized early in the quarter.