Multimedia Memoir Assignment

Unlike our first two projects, which concentrated in one way or another on the memories of others, this assignment asks you to focus on a vivid memory of your own and to experiment with ways to evoke that memory and its multiple meanings for others.

1. Choose the memory. This step may take some time, and I know that all of you have already been thinking of it. I recommend that you focus on a memory that doesn’t cover a long span of time, since that might require a lengthy piece of writing/filming/etc.

2. Consider the media through which you want to evoke this memory. Since I am so print-based, I would almost certainly begin with writing about the memory and then look for other media to add to what I’ve written. But I am assuming that you may begin with a medium other than writing: recording sounds or voices; images; video; etc. Also think carefully about how the media you choose will “cooperate” with one another and whether that’s an effect you want: you might instead want media that clash and call attention to the disparities between them.

3. Once you have chosen the memory and the media you will use, begin the work of designing/orchestrating your memoir. If you start with traditional writing, this will entail an informal outline of some kind. If you are starting with a Web site, you will want to create a storyboard—a mock-up of what the site will look like and how its pieces will fit together.

You’d do the same thing for a video shoot. At this stage, I recommend that you get response from at least one colleague in our class to get a reality check on how well the central ideas and impressions in your memoir are coming across.

4. If you haven’t already done so, now is the time to seek advice from Dena or Carlos about multimedia—and from me about any issues regarding effectiveness of the choices you’ve made.

5. After you’ve put your piece together, plan for at least one or two dry runs through it to make sure everything works and that you have a chance to practice adding your live voice to the mix, if that’s something you’re planning to do.

6. Make sure to time the presentation of your memoir. We’ll have 20 minutes for each one, but we should reserve at least a few minutes of that time for questions, comments, and responses.

I can’t wait to hear more about these projects!!