PhD Oral Exam - Shara Lange, Humanities

When studying for a doctoral degree (PhD), candidates submit a thesis that provides a critical review of the current state of knowledge of the thesis subject as well as the student’s own contributions to the subject. The distinguishing criterion of doctoral graduate research is a significant and original contribution to knowledge.

Once accepted, the candidate presents the thesis orally. This oral exam is open to the public.

Abstract

In “The Burden of Knowing: Place-based Cinema Practices & Participation,” I ask how media-making could facilitate engagement with and representation of my often essentialized region through place-based cinema practices. I define place-based cinema practices and describe my artistic research projects composed of two non-fiction films, the short, Work Sticks, and the long-form film, The Burden of Knowing. In addition, my research-creation dissertation includes several pedagogical projects, of which Living Langston is the principal.  Importantly, my written component provides the theoretical context, analysis, and explanation of the creative works and pedagogical projects. Over the past eight years of doctoral research, I have greatly deepened my relationship to the East-Tennessee region where I live as I explored what place-based, conscientious processes of filmmaking, grounded in pedagogy, can do for our community now and in the future.