Spring 2024 Writing UN3031 section 001

INTRO TO AUDIO STORYTELLING

CG SEM - INTRO TO AUDIO S

Call Number 15460
Day & Time
Location
W 12:10pm-2:00pm
311 Fayerweather
Points 3
Grading Mode Standard
Approvals Required None
Instructor Mallika Rao
Type SEMINAR
Method of Instruction In-Person
Course Description

It’s one thing to tell a story with the pen. It’s another to transfix your audience with your voice. In this class, we will explore principles of audio narrative. Oral storytellers arguably understand suspense, humor and showmanship in ways only a live performer can. Even if you are a diehard writer of visually-consumed text, you may find, once the class is over, that you have learned techniques that can translate across borders: your written work may benefit. Alternatively, you may discover that audio is the medium for you.

We will consider sound from the ground up – from folkloric oral traditions, to raw, naturally captured sound stories, to seemingly straightforward radio news segments, to highly polished narrative podcasts. While this class involves a fair amount of reading, much of what we will be studying and discussing is audio material. Some is as lo-fi as can be, and some is operatic in scope, benefitting from large production budgets and teams of artists. At the same time that we study these works, each student will also complete small audio production exercises of their own; as a final project, students will be expected to produce a trailer, or “sizzle” for a hypothetical multi-episode show.

This class is meant for beginners to the audio tradition. There are some tech requirements: a recording device (most phones will suffice), workable set of headphones, and computer. You’ll also need to download the free audio editing software Audacity.

Web Site Vergil
Department Writing
Enrollment 15 students (20 max) as of 4:06PM Sunday, December 1, 2024
Subject Writing
Number UN3031
Section 001
Division Interfaculty
Fee $15 Creative Writing C
Note REQUIRED REGISTRATION IN DISCUSSION SECTION WRIT UN3408
Section key 20241WRIT3031W001