Professor: Sergio Waisman
Department: Romance, German & Slavic Languages & Literatures
Title: Undercover Notes, Bilingual Crónicas, and Other Fragments
Description: Undercover Notes, Bilingual Crónicas, and Other Fragments is a new scholarly project based on my experiences as a bilingual and multicultural creative writer and literary translator, as well as a Latin American & Comparative Literature researcher. The project consists of gathering and taking a series of notes (usually in writing, often in images and short audio-videos, at times in short interviews and conversations with participating subjects) related to a series of “underground realities” (in various cross-cultural situations) that are found and co-exist (sometimes in parallel, sometimes intersecting) in parts of the U.S. and in parts of
Latin America. Geographically, the focus will be primarily in the DMV Area (on the one hand), and in the Southern Cone of South America (on the other hand)—since the scope of the project involves my continuing interests in North-South, English-Spanish, linguistic, literary, and cultural translations, dialogues, and exchanges.
The project consists of gathering and recording written and audio-visual material, keeping careful track of the material, and then editing the material in preparation for various anticipated forms of publication and dissemination. Undercover Notes, Bilingual Crónicas, and Other Fragments is a new inter-disciplinary, bilingual, cross-cultural project that involves a combination of research and creative methodologies and technologies, such as note-taking, interviewing, recording and transcribing conversations, undertaking digital research and communications (mostly in English; some in Spanish), as well as photography and other audio-visual recording techniques. Although the project is at a very early stage, possible final products include publication in print and/or electronic journals, a book at the end of the project, as well as podcast or other newer digital humanities outlets along the way. The final product and dissemination is still to be determined. At this early stage, I am in the creative phase, gathering all sorts of material related to the project, and actively writing and starting to produce the work. Working with a research assistant from this early stage would be of tremendous help.
Duties: The research assistant would assist with note-taking (and/or recording) relevant interviews and conversations, photographing (or doing audio-visual recordings) of these interviews and conversations, undertaking digital research, transcribing the material recorded, and helping to keep all of the material well organized for future editing and eventual publication. Ideally, the research assistant would have strong writing and/or artistic abilities, as well as strong audio-visual and relevant high-tech skills. The work will include audio-video recording, some photography, writing, and transcribing and editing of the material. The work will also require a research assistant with strong cultural sensitivities, especially able to work with different immigrant groups, and peoples from a wide range of backgrounds. Bilingual skills (Spanish/English) is a definite plus.
Time commitment: 4-6 hours per week (average)
Credit hour option*: 2
Submit Cover Letter/Resume to: waisman@gwu.edu
*If credit is sought, all registration deadlines and requirements must be met. Students selected to be research assistants should contact Ben Faulkner at benfaulkner@gwu.edu whether they intend to pursue credit or not.
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