Calling America

Calling America" is an internet-based oral histories project that explores the possibilities of popular communications technologies in the practice of participatory journalism, documentary and the preservation of people's histories. 

Artist Statement

"Calling America" is an internet-based oral histories project that explores the possibilities of popular communications technologies in the practice of participatory journalism, documentary and the preservation of people's histories. Calling America programs make use of cellular telephones and related technologies in conjunction with blogging platforms in the process of producing blog-based documentaries—or blogumentaries—concerning various sites of activist and grass-roots led organizational practices in the United States. 

Program 1: March on the Pentagon A diverse group of activists from across the U.S. record their journeys to the historic March on the Pentagon, March 17 2007. Beginning seven days prior to the event each contributor recorded a daily audio blog entry via land-line or cellular telephone in which they reflected on their personal and political motivations for protesting the war in Iraq, discussed strategy and acted as citizen journalists documenting their travels to Washington D.C. from throughout the United States. 

(Source: 2008 ELO Media Arts show)