Boston Americana: A Musical History is a new course at Wentworth Institute of Technology that provides an introduction to the digital curation and visualization of humanities research data through a critical analysis of the history of Boston’s Americana music scene. The Americana Music Association defines Americana Music as “contemporary music that incorporates elements of various American roots music styles, including country, roots-rock, folk, bluegrass, R&B and blues, resulting in a distinctive roots-oriented sound that lives in a world apart from the pure forms of the genres upon which it may draw. While acoustic instruments are often present and vital, Americana also often uses a full electric band.” The thesis for this course is that the Boston/Cambridge/Somerville, Massachusetts area has long fostered a rich Americana music scene; however, that artistic culture and community is largely under-rated and has not received the documentation or critical attention that it deserves. The goal of the course / project then, is to create and curate such documentation and critical attention. Students are introduced to the story of the Boston Americana Music scene through readings, data collection activities, guest lectures by local experts, and visits to historically-relevant sites. The course then provides basic training in the use of Adobe Premiere Pro (film editing software) and culminates in a final project focused on the creation of digital video documentaries dedicated to different aspects of the Boston Americana scene (including music venues, performers, promoters, managers, writers, etc.). This paper will present an overview of the course pedagogy and methodology, an evaluation of learning outcomes from the first iteration of the course (which was offered in Spring 2018), and highlights/insights from student film projects.
About the presenterChristopher Scott Gleason
Christopher Scott Gleason is a Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Florida International University and a Ph.D. in English / Creative Writing from the University of Utah. He teaches History of American Folk Music, American Cinema as Reflection of American Culture, Film & Literature: The Art of Adaptation, and a variety of digital humanities survey and studio courses.