The curation of audio recordings from the past is a useful tool in sparking the interest of stories in our histories. These auditory pieces incorporate voices, sounds, and music that blend together to form a piece of art that provides a perspective of events happening both today and a long time ago. Radio Diaries: Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Life is a website that provides access to a plethora of curated audio that details important people, events, and themes of the past. Through listening to the pieces that have been created on Radio Diaries, we may begin to analyze the impact and importance of these pieces and their places in our history.
In "Matthew and the Judge" a piece from the Diaries section of the website we are introduced to the life of a repeat juvenile offender, Matthew, and the judge, Jeremiah, that he is met by. The curator of this piece chose to start the piece with Matthew introducing himself and the layout of his cell. This choice is interesting because it intertwines Matthew into this space. Matthew's descriptions of his confinement demonstrate a sense of being accustomed to this type of surrounding. He even goes on to state that prison is somewhat like a "free vacation" because of the ample food and "free room and board." The curator's decision to start the piece with this audio clip enables the listener to form a pseudo-reality of Matthew's reality in their mind.
To hear the complete version of "Matthew and the Judge" click here
In "The Last Man on the Mountain" a piece from the Portraits section of the website we listen to the story of an aging West Virginian, Jimmy, being forced from his home due to a large coal company coming into the town of Pigeonroost, WV. The piece begins with dogs barking and Jimmy's heavy Appalachian accent. As the audio continues, a variety of accents are introduced which clearly label Jimmy as an "other" outside of the movement he holds himself against. An aging state, West Virginia's younger population has been leaving for new opportunities. As the son of West Virginians, the reality the curator presents through the juxtaposition of accents is something I found to be bold and well planned out, as it is a reality that West Virginians face when moving into a new area due to lack of jobs or access to resources.
To hear the complete version of "The Last Man on the Mountain" click here
In "Strange Fruit: Voices of a Lynching" a piece from the Histories section of the website we hear many voices and perspectives of a 1930's lynching that happened in Marion, Indiana. One of the more powerful decisions made by the curator is the incorporation of Abel Meeropol's song "Strange Fruit" that fades in towards the end of the audio clip. This song, related to the topic of lynching brought up in the piece, adds a mesmerizing back sound to the last voices heard in the clip.
To hear the complete version of "Strange Fruit: Voices of a Lynching" click here
Video-based based resources allow students to experience subjects in another engaging way. In this section, I will demonstrate an inquiry-based activity that students are able to complete that involves the use of video.
Video Activity
(To be used with the video clip: Parent Comments on Integration at Warren County High School (WSLS Television, Roanoke, VA)
Inquiry Based Questions
Guided Learning Questions
Possible Responses to the Inquiry Based Questions