The goal of this assignment is to create a video argument that makes the case for why the theme/subject of your oral history video is important for society to learn more about. Think of the video as a kind of public service announcement in that the video will be making the case for why the public should pay attention to your issue or theme. And, at the end of the video, if your theme warrants, before the creative commons license slide, please add contact information where people who see the video can go for help, to volunteer, or for further information.

To complete the project, your video will remix and mash together the following texts: still images, video, audio, and alphabetic text. Each of the above must be used at least once in the video. Here are three examples (the third by a former student):

“Clean Up New York”

“Imagine This”

“Cerebral Palsy Remix”

There are three non-negotiable stipulations. First, your voice cannot appear on the video at all. Second, your own alphabetic text (in the form of subtitles or titles) cannot make the argument or push the point to make it obvious, as in Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 campaign commercial “Peace Little Girl (Daisy)”:

The images, video, and sounds must make the argument. Third, the video cannot be merely an interview with someone (say, an expert in the field) discussing why the issue is important. While this is certainly a useful way to get a point across, the goal here is to try to accomplish something similar with remix and mash-up.

In addition to the video production, students will also be required to complete 2 shorter Critical Reflection Papers:

• The first (250-500 words in length), should focus on the medium, on the experience of working in/with/across digital video and how that experience relates to traditional writing.
• The second (250-500 words in length), should focus on the message, on the attempted rhetorical moves, on the editing techniques themselves and why various edits, cuts, mashups, etc. were done (what was their intended effect).

Helpful Resources

Even though our use of video and images will fall under Fair Use, please use the following resources to find Creative Commons-licensed work. Note that if you use Creative Commons share-alike work you video will need to use the same share-alike license:

• Where All the Purty Pictures Come From: Flickr + Creative Commons by ProfHacker
• 30+ Places to Find Creative Commons Media

For New York Times Newspaper headlines, see the New York Times PDF Archive (Rowan students only). For historic photographs with no licensing restrictions, see The Commons on Flickr. Also see the LIFE Magazine Archive hosted by Google, The Library of Congress Photostream on Flickr, and The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog.

To find videos, I suggest using YouTube because we will be able to convert those files and download them easier than with other video-sharing sites.

Specifics when Uploading the Video to YouTube

• Upload the video to the course YouTube channel
• Place the complete title of your video in the form field when uploading the video. The title you choose should be meaningful and should include some version of the work “remi” or “mashup.”
• In the Description form field, add the following text:
  • start with a one-two sentence description of the the video, and describing its purpose
  • state that the project was completed by you for Writing, Research, and Technology, Spring 2010, Rowan University, taught by Dr. Bill Wolff. If you don’t want to include your full name, use your first name and last initial (this will also ensure that I know who completed the video). The video is [specify how you have copyrighted the video (choose a Creative Commons license that is consistent with any Creative Commons texts you have chosen)]. Include a statement with URLs that points the viewer to information about the course (https://williamwolff.orgcourses/wrt-spring-2010/) and assignment (TBA). Also mention the software you used to complete the remix.
  • All texts that are used in the video must be attributed. In the Description only (that is, NOT in credits in the video) list the title, author/creator, date, and URL for each text. List them under the header: “Texts Used (in order of appearance”). If you do not know, for example, the date, just don’t include that info.
  • Please use paragraphs and complete sentences
• Add at least the following tags: remix, mashup, wrts10, rowan, rowan university, as well as multiple tags relating to your topic (these tags will increase the likelihood that the video will be found when searching that subject matter).
• For the category, select Education (it could fall under “Entertainment” but Education suits our purposes).
• Make the video public and allow embedding and comments
• After upload, please the video in the Remix Unit 2 playlist

Due Dates

3/29: 1 – 3 minute synopsis video uploaded to course YouTube channel
3/31: 1 – 3 minute rough draft due on course YouTube channel by class time
4/9: 2 – 5 minute final draft due on course YouTube Channel and required essays emailed to BW in one document by 11:00pm