The Center for Documentary Studies

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The Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University teaches, engages in, and presents documentary work grounded in collaborative partnerships and extended fieldwork that uses photography, film/video, audio, and narrative writing to capture and convey contemporary memory, life, and culture. CDS values documentary work that balances community goals with individual artistic expression. CDS promotes documentary work that cultivates progressive change by amplifying voices, advancing human dignity, engendering respect among individuals, breaking down barriers to understanding, and illuminating social injustices. CDS conducts its work for local, regional, national, and international audiences.

Series

Caption: Craig Griffieon of Ankeny, Iowa, Credit: Elena Rue
Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families 
5 Pieces

A series of five one-hour programs following five farm families through a year of their work and their lives. The farms are in New England, the South, the Midwest, the high desert West, and northern California. The programs are hosted by John Biewen of CDS but mostly narrated by members of the families themselves.

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Scene On Radio 
6 Pieces

A podcast from CDS, hosted by John Biewen. SceneOnRadio.org.

Pieces

MEN Part 3: Skeleton War
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
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A few hundred years ago, the great thinkers of the Enlightenment began to declare that “all men are created equal.” Some of them said that notion s...

Bought by WCNY, KTRT RADIO INC, and KSFR


  • Added: Oct 16, 2018
  • Length: 33:34
  • Purchases: 3
The Making of Male Dominance
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
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One-hour documentary special on the invention and perpetuation of patriarchy in the Western world and early U.S. history.

Bought by WVTF, WRKF, KBIA, Maine Public Radio, KJZZ and more


  • Added: Aug 29, 2018
  • Length: 53:59
  • Purchases: 57
MEN Part 2: Ain't No Amoeba
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
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For millennia, Western culture (and most other cultures) declared that men and women were different sorts of humans—and, by the way, men were bette...

  • Added: Aug 03, 2018
  • Length: 31:48
MEN Part 1: Dick Move
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
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Launching Scene on Radio Season 3 series—MEN—co-hosts John Biewen and Celeste Headlee look at the problems of male supremacy. And we visit Deep Tim...

Bought by KZMU Moab Community Radio


  • Added: Jul 19, 2018
  • Length: 37:45
  • Purchases: 1
The Invention of Race
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: Gomes de Zurara, the Portuguese inventor of blackness (and whiteness), highlighted, on The Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon, Portugal. , Credit: Harvey Barrison
One-hour historical documentary that tells the story of the construction of race, and racism, as we live with them today.

Bought by WNED Buffalo, KUCR 88.3 fm Riverside, Calif., Maine Public Radio, KSUT, High Plains Public Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 22, 2017
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 127
The Invention of Race: Preview
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: Gomes de Zurara, the Portuguese inventor of blackness (and whiteness), highlighted, on The Monument to the Discoveries in Lisbon, Portugal., Credit: Harvey Barrison
Preview for upcoming 1-hour special, telling the story of the construction of race, and racism, as we live with them today.

  • Added: Oct 11, 2017
  • Length: 06:47
Scene on Radio #3: The (High School) Mascot Wars
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
Caption: Emblem in the main foyer at Teton High school in Driggs, Idaho., Credit: John Biewen
Two small towns, one in Idaho, the other in Upstate New York, debate whether to stop calling their high school sports teams the Redskins.

Bought by KRZA, KUER, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 21, 2015
  • Length: 24:51
  • Purchases: 4
Scene on Radio #2: Friends and Basketball
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
Caption: Pattonville High School basketball players (left to right) Cassie Callahan, Allyson Sanders, and Tyra Brown. , Credit: John Biewen
Can the camaraderie of a team sport make race and class status “disappear” for the kids involved or their parents?

Bought by KUER, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., and PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 21, 2015
  • Length: 26:27
  • Purchases: 3
Scene on Radio #1: Sports, the Great Uniter?
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Scene On Radio
Caption: Beer vendor, Busch Stadium, Credit: John Biewen
Can a winning baseball team bring St. Louis together post-Ferguson?

Bought by KUER and PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 21, 2015
  • Length: 13:02
  • Purchases: 2
Emmett and Trayvon
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: Mike Wiley performing Dar He: The Story of Emmett Till
Documentary Theater artist Mike Wiley performs and discusses Dar He, his one-man play about the murdered teenager Emmett Till.

Bought by KUER and WUNC


  • Added: Jun 20, 2014
  • Length: 13:22
  • Purchases: 2

Playlists

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People who work with The Center for Documentary Studies

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John Biewen (Admin)
Audio Program Director