Documenting the making of a document about documentaries

Abstract

This project was part of the University of Michigan's "Michigan Library Scholars" internship in the summer of 2023. Fall 2023 semester has been identified as an Arts and Resistance theme semester with a focus on the exploration of “how the visual, performing, and literary arts play a central role in shaping cultural and political narratives.” This project involved the identification of documentaries held in the Askwith Media Library and in our online film platforms that showcase activism, artists, and performing artists, not only produced in the U.S. but also internationally.

The student chosen for this project researched documentaries, identified, viewed, and analyzed numerous films; selected appropriate titles within scope for the project; created an annotated bibliography; and identified target Ann Arbor campus courses which could potentially use the bibliography during the Fall 2023 semester. The student also learned about the role of media in higher education curricula, the role the library plays in media literacy, as well as teamwork skills, project planning, and library research.