Another Look
Place-based Story Telling was a rewarding experience because it gave me the
chance to connect to classmates in a way I hadn’t before. I transferred to
Tulane
during my Sophomore year of college because I was determined to move to New
Orleans. Tulane was the only application I sent in, and if I wasn’t accepted I
was
going to move to New Orleans any how.
Even though I got in, Tulane always seemed like an after thought to me. As
soon as I moved into my off-campus apartment I was focused on exploring New
Orleans and making connections to people in the city’s community. I went to
class,
but felt alienated from a student body I perceived as ensconcing themselves in
a
geographical bubble and homogenous social environment. I felt the dominant
Tulane student culture focused on avoiding the larger New Orleans community,
and
New Orleans’ racial, cultural, social, and political landscape that renders it
such a
rich and complex place.
In many ways, I still think this about Tulane’s administrative and
dominant
social frameworks, and want to change so much about the school. However,
taking
Place-Based Story Telling this fall semester forced me to realize that there are
an
overwhelming number of students who want connect to New Orleans and carve out
a new space in the social scene.
Exploring the city, trying, failing, growing, and bonding with a complex and
amazing group of classmates was one of the most humbling experiences of my
life.
In the process, I have realized the negative assumptions I made about my
Tulane
peers and a supposition of superior knowledge about the city were based on my
own limitations.
I have learned to appreciate that my fellow students are dealing with the
same obstacles I am, and that we all have much to learn about the city that so
generously allows us to be here. Tulane does not always make being here easy.
However, we as Tulane students can work together in embarking our difficult
and
perhaps most essential journey during our remaining time: to understand and
give
back to the city, as well as each other.
By Galia Binder
You can’t get to the bottom of New Orleans. The more I find out about this
city, the more I realize how little I know. From student life at Tulane to working
at a local bakery to engaging with local high school students, each facet… 
When I signed up for place-based storytelling, I thought I was signing up for some
regular class where we would learn how to tell stories about New Orleans. I assumed
we would write some stories and film them and that would be it. What I… 
It is truly bizarre how much your view of a place can change over time. I have only
lived in New Orleans for a little over a year now, and it is unbelievable how this
place is the same one I daydreamed about in high… 
After living in New Orleans for two years, I thought I knew a lot about the city.
Obviously not everything, but the important stuff: the difference between Cajun and
Creole, the meaning of Fais Do-Do, how to sort of dance Zydeco and which
neighborhoods you… 
If you put a camera in someone’s face, you can learn a lot. I’m not
referring to the story that person tells, though their narrative is important. I am
referring to the reaction someone has to the very camera. While filming for our
class project… 
I am the only one in the class who is a native of New Orleans, which puts me in an
interesting
position to reflect on what this video project has taught me about the city. How can
I be taught
something new about my city… 
I’m so sorry.
It seems strange to begin this journal entry that way, but it was the first thing
that came to mind. I’m so sorry, New Orleans. I have lived here for almost
four years; I have claimed to love you. But I didn’t… 
I had an idea of what this class was going to be about when I registered, but I
didn’t realize how much of an impact it would have on me in the course of the
semester.
The only time I’ve really worked with kids in… 
New Orleans has much more of a filmic quality and community than I originally
realized. Yes, the culturally literate (culturally pretentious ?) dub New Orleans
the “new Hollywood,” but there are so many people involved in film and
media that actually live and work here…