Black Digital Storytelling Presented End-of-Semester Final Film Project Screening in April

On Tuesday, April 30, the course Black Digital Storytelling (AAST 3353) held its final film project screening at the World Languages & Digital Humanities Studio (JBHT 207). The course is taught by Chy'Na Nellon, a Ph.D. student in comparative literature & cultural studies and WLDH Studio researcher.  

Over the semester, students created a digital story about themselves, a silent digital story, an advocacy story, a podcast and a group film project in addition to their final project. They worked with various software to complete each project, such as Canva, Adobe Premiere Pro and Miro. Guest speakers Alexis Davis, Agnolia Gay, Bernard Oliver and Gianni Olidame visited the class as well.  

Students had the opportunity to create two digital stories, a podcast, a short film and a portfolio website to highlight their work for a final presentation and screening. Students were given creative freedom to produce any type of digital media within the parameters of the coursework and readings. Each student's portfolio website hosted the films and were created through the U of A student ePortfolio site. Lunch and refreshments were provided. 

"This was an exciting class to teach because it allows the students a lot of creativity," Nellon said. "To have the opportunity to see what the students produce within the requirement of the assignment has been a wonderful experience." 

One student, Jasmine Dean, noted during her final presentation that she appreciated the chance to freely express herself creatively and make her final project her own. 

For more information on the African and African American Studies program, please contact Najja K. Baptist, director of the program, at nbaptist@uark.edu.