Storytelling is an important part of Southern culture. During spring 2016, students enrolled in Keri Watson's ARH 3683: Southern Folk Arts created digital stories inspired by the class and their lives. With sponsorship from the National Endowment for the Arts, the class participated in six weeks of events centered around Zora Neale Hurston’s award-winning novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Students were then tasked with creating their own stories in the form of visual digital narratives.

Students were encouraged to think about a story that only they could tell. They workshopped their stories in small groups, developed their scripts, assembled their visual materials and music, and created two- to three-minute videos. Many of the students were inspired by Janie Crawford’s struggles, and as young college students many of their stories are coming of age narratives.

Student films focus on topics including playing sports, becoming independent, taking chances, and growing up. Several students focused on the significance of food, from Mom’s secret macaroni-and-cheese recipe to Lee and Rick’s gumbo. Other stories deal with illness, injury, and prejudice. All of the stories are compelling in their own way and demonstrate students’ capacity for reflection through storytelling.