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.

Caption: Scene on Radio logo , Credit: Mara Guevarra
Scene On Radio 
6 Pieces

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

Pieces

Hello, My Name Is....
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: The Producers, l to r: Ashley Mooney, Dillon Buckner, Grace Farson, Madeline Miller, Ted Phillips, Wilson Sayre, Eunice Kim, Clare Fieseler, Ligaiya Romero, Ben Finkel. Not pictured: Jagmeet Mac , Credit: John Biewen
A one-hour collection of short pieces about names and the naming of stuff, produced by undergrad and graduate students at Duke University. Hosted b...

Bought by KUER, WRVO Public Media, WCQS, KRCU Public Radio, WTIP and more


  • Added: Sep 06, 2013
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 8
Groundwork: Democracy Close to Home
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: A resident of Chicago's 49th Ward., Credit: Melissa Beck
A timely one-hour special, hosted by NPR's Scott Simon, that tells stories of American democracy at the local level. We listen in as people wrestle...

Bought by KPIK-LP, XRAY.fm, Nevada Public Radio, Connecticut Public (WNPR), KRCU Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 30, 2012
  • Length: 54:01
  • Purchases: 79
Five Farms, Episode Five: Succession
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families
Caption: David Pecusa, Third Mesa, Hopi Nation, Credit: Andrew Lewis
For each of the families of Five Farms, the question looms large: Who will take over the farm? Succession features the next generation --- the youn...

Bought by WCNY, WEKU, KFOK-LPFM, WRPI, KBGA 89.9 FM and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 13
Five Farms, Episode Four: Harvest
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families
Caption: Jeff and Annie Main, Capay, Cal., Credit: Alix Lowrey Blair
Autumn is harvest time. That means Iowa corn and soybeans; fruit dried in the California sun; greens, beans, and potatoes; slaughtered hogs and bee...

Bought by WFAE, WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KICI Iowa City, KUNM, KUNC & The Colorado Sound and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 28
Five Farms, Episode Three: Stewardship
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families
Caption: Sherry Hager, Colrain, Mass., Credit: Steve Schapiro
Stewardship focuses on the daily choices farming families make to preserve their land, water, and air --- the fundamentals of farming. During mid-s...

Bought by WCNY, Rhythm & News Service, WEKU, KBGA 89.9 FM, KFOK-LPFM and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 13
Five Farms, Episode Two: Nurturing
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families
Caption: Eddie Wise, Whitakers, N.C., Credit: Tom Rankin
Early summer is a time of long days on the family farm, perfect for nurturing crops and animals as they approach the peak of growing season. Nurtur...

Bought by WCNY, Rhythm & News Service, WEKU, KBGA 89.9 FM, KFOK-LPFM and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 13
Five Farms, Episode One: Planting
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Series: Five Farms: Stories from American Farm Families
Caption: Craig Griffieon of Ankeny, Iowa, Credit: Elena Rue
Spring planting on the family farm is the time of the annual gamble --- on the alchemies of nature, on the health of livestock, on future fall harv...

Bought by WCNY, WFAE, WCAI / WNAN Cape & Islands, Mass., KGNU Community Radio, Rhythm & News Service and more


  • Added: Jun 06, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 16
Recycled
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
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A compilation of short documentaries on the theme, "Recycled," exploring aspects of human life that get repeated and re-used, for better and for wo...

Bought by WFAE, WRIR, WBEZ, KWIT, Georgia Public Broadcasting and more


  • Added: May 20, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 9
Travels with Mike: In Search of America 50 Years After Steinbeck
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
Caption: Producer John Biewen queries the author in Monterey, Cal., Credit: Diana Garcia
A one-hour special revisiting Steinbeck's iconic book, Travels with Charley -- published 50 years ago, in 1962 -- and journeying into today's Ameri...

Bought by WRGY, KICI Iowa City, KUOW, KOSU, WHFR and more


  • Added: Apr 18, 2011
  • Length: 54:00
  • Purchases: 82
Nuevo South
From: The Center for Documentary Studies
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An un-narrated portrait of a Southern town in transition

Bought by KFAI Minneapolis and KPFA


  • Added: Oct 01, 2008
  • Length: 30:12
  • Purchases: 2

Playlists

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People who work with The Center for Documentary Studies

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John Biewen (Admin)
Producer/Host