My Experience

     I originally decided to take this class because I thought it would help me become a better writer. Since that's my goal in life, I don't take any classes unless they fit that criterion in some way. I thought learning about Self-Narratives would help me understand my characters' pasts better, and how those pasts affect present actions.

        While I wasn't wrong, I certainly underestimated how much work goes into a life history. First, there were ethical concerns. How does editing a life history change the meaning of said history? How much of the interviewer goes into the final product? Is there an objective truth? How does power effect what is said in an interview? How is the interviewee using his or her words to change the image the interviewer has of him or her? On and on and on with that.

        Michael works closely with many of my Film major friends in his professional capacity here at Hollins. That made him a target for my project, since he was accessible and friendly. However, the only time he had free for interviews was bright and early in the morning. So several days at eight A.M. sharp, I wandered down to the library and met Michael in one of the editing rooms.

        Michael's interview was influenced by his acting background, so much of what he chose not to say he instead expressed through his body language, most of which I could not capture in brackets. He turned out to be a very interesting, articulate man who did best when I just shut up and let him talk. He chose to define himself largely through his family ties and personal accomplishments, which are considerable. What surprised me the most about the process was the extent to which he opened up as it went on. Although there were some things that he chose not to talk in great detail about, he said himself that he had been more open with me than he had been with most other people.

        I organized his transcripts according to topic, since Michael had a tendency to touch on the same things several times in his interviews, saying a bit more about it each time. I also edited out his repetitions and all "ums" and "uhs," according to his request. I had intended on doing a third interview, but the sudden increase in media events on campus made Michael extremely busy, and since he's also a family man, I didn't want to become a nuisance. As it was, he barely glanced at the transcripts, saying only, "I trust you." Therefore, what is on this website is a result of that trust, which I hope I deserve.

        This class has made me much more aware of the power of my words, at least as they relate to what people know of me. My Information page, for example, is purposely facetious and light-hearted, to balance the seriousness of the rest of the site. It also impressed upon me the importance of ethics in the manipulation of someone else's words, for how I edit his story effects how the rest of the world sees him.

      Parenthetically, I don't know if it has improved my writing any. I'm still trying to incorporate my new sensitivity into my fiction.

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