Cameraphone Composition: Documentary Filmmaking as Civic-Rhetorical Action in First-Year Composition

Download PDF

Contents

Introduction

The Multimodal Turn

Composing to Assemble Publics

The Retold Histories of Clemson

The Process: Making Documentary Videos in the FYC Classroom

The Retold Histories of Clemson: Three Documentary Films

Behind the Scenes”: Access, Accessibility, & Audiences

Conclusions

References

Appendix A: Assignment Prompt for The Retold Histories of Clemson Project

About the Author

Appendix A: Assignment Prompt for The Retold Histories of Clemson Project

Project Requirements: Your project will make an argument related to Clemson’s History with Diversity.

• Option #1: Your 3-minute film documentary will argue that Clemson community members have neglected Clemson’s early history with issues related to slavery, to discrimination based on race, and on topics related to race in general in the 19th, 20th, and/or 21st centuries. Your documentary will argue that we ought to pay more attention to these issues today. Your documentary will tell that story of Clemson’s history.
• Option #2: Your 3-minute film documentary will argue that Clemson community members have neglected Clemson University’s history with sexism, admittance of women, and discrimination based upon gender. Your documentary will argue that we ought to pay more attention to these issues and events today. Your documentary will tell that story.
• Option #3: Your 3-minute film documentary will argue that Clemson community members have neglected Clemson University’s history with some issue related to a particular place, space, monument, or public marker on or around campus. For this option, you will give us a “walking tour film” which tells a story concerning our campus’ history.
• Option #4: Your 3-minute documentary film will cover a diversity-related topic of your group’s choice that follows the above format. Your group will need to obtain a go-ahead from your professor if you decide to pursue this option.