Mapping Memories Project

The Department of Historical and Cultural Studies, the Cities Studies Program, Department of Human Geography, the Nearby Studies Project, and the students of the multi-discipinary course, “Oral History and Urban Change,” in collaboration with the Centre for Digital Scholarship are pleased to share with you a presentation and conversation with Elizabeth Miller, Professor in the Department of Communications and Media, Concordia University, Montreal, and Director and founder of the Mapping Memories Project – the focus of this session.

Location: University of Toronto Scarborough, Room AA160

Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2-4pm

BACKGROUND:

As an independent documentary videomaker, trans-media artist, and professor who lived in Central and South America for over six years, Professor Miller is committed to producing work that connects individuals across cultures. Fifteen years of community media experience and a background in political economics, electronic media art, and Latin American studies, fuel her exploration of new media as art and as an educational tool. She is interested in new approaches to community collaborations and the documentary format and her work connects personal stories to larger social concerns. Most recently Dr. Miller has been exploring a range of non-linear documentaries.
redlizardmedia.com

The focus of this presentation and discussion is the project:

Mapping Memories, http://www.mappingmemories.ca/:

Mapping Memories is a participatory media project involving DIY cartography and refugee youth in coordination with the various partners including the Canadian Council for Refugees, the Cote de Neige Youth Center, the YWCA. http://www.lifestoriesmontreal.ca/en/experiences-of-refugee-youth
which uses personal stories and a range of media tools (DIY cartography, video, sound walks, mapping, photography) to better understand the experiences of youth with refugee experience in Montreal. The objective has been to produce creative work that will have an impact on policy, education, art and on the lives of the youth involved. One of the products of this project is a book in english and french, both of which are available for download as well as over twenty films and documentaries.

In preparation for this event, students are reading: Miller, Elizabeth with Michele Luchs and Gracia Dyer Jalea. “Chapter 3: Going Places: Connecting Personal Stories to Public Places” and “Chapter 4: Roots to Rap with: Expressing Identity Through Music.” In Mapping Memories: Participatory Media, Place-Based Stories, and Refugee Youth. Available at www.mappingmemories.ca/book

And we recommend that you do the same.

For more information contact, Colin Olford, Nearby Studies Project Coordinator, colin.olford@utoronto.ca

For directions to and a map of the UofT Scarborough Campus see:

http://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aboutUs/contacts.html