3 Projects
Arab Oral Epic
Designed to bring the oral storytelling tradition to life for students, the Arab Oral Epic project gathers together more than 60 image and text documents related to North African storytelling. The archive includes audio and video recordings from a variety of sessions with a traditional storyteller, as well as an interview with the storyteller himself. Students can explore how the storyteller tailors the story to the audience and investigate what role the audience plays in the experience. The archive further allows students to access the full transcript of Bani Hilal (a traditional Arab epic), review English translations, and explore art, maps, and additional cultural materials.
Hyperstudio Role
Conceptualized ways to represent an oral tradition digitally. Adapted a range of original materials—including large glass paintings and videos in multiple formats—to create a communal resource.Collaborators
HyperStudio Team: Susannah Mandel
Project Lead: Susan Slyomovics, former MIT professor of anthropology
Funding
