Audio documentation has played a crucial part in capturing the many stories, performances, exchanges, and demonstrations that have taken place on the National Mall as part of the Festival of American Folklife (now Smithsonian Folklife Festival). For each program, documentation volunteers generated detailed "class style" notes to accompany audio recordings which often include presenter and participant names, subject keywords, song titles, and brief descriptions of the events taking place in real time. These notes are often the richest (or only) source of information about who was present and provide key references for understanding and interpreting the recorded content.
Audio documentation has played a crucial part in capturing the many stories, performances, exchanges, and demonstrations that have taken place on the National Mall as part of the Festival of American Folklife (now Smithsonian Folklife Festival). For each program, documentation volunteers generated detailed "class style" notes to accompany audio recordings which often include presenter and participant names, subject keywords, song titles, and brief descriptions of the events taking place in real time. These notes are often the richest (or only) source of information about who was present and provide key references for understanding and interpreting the recorded content. While the styles, formats, and spelling accuracy vary across logs, they nevertheless serve as fundamental link between what actually took place and what is documented in audio, photo, and, video formats. In a three-year cycle themed with World Migration at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this second year presents topics related to Migration across Generations. Visitors explore how American communities and cultures are transformed by the movements, displacements, and interactions of diverse populations over time, with the goal of obtaining insight into the growth of healthy inclusive communities across the country. the 2017 program foregrounds the perspectives of youth, past and present. It invites intergenerational conversations about the interplay of migration, creativity, and culture, highlighting the social power of tradition and art. It focuses on how young people assume responsibility as bridge builders among communities, generations, and into the future. Today's generation of young people, ranging from their mid-teens into their mid-thirties, are the most racially diverse population in American history. As young Americans, they have a particular stake in the world they inherit together. here.
