The ubiquity of Podcasts

Description & Objectives: the ubiquity of Podcasts has nearly matched the popularity of traditional broadcast media. Thousands of podcasts are released each day, span almost every conceivable topic and employ any possible style of presentation, ranging from basic raw voice recordings to multi-track productions.
In this assignment, you—and possibly a partner or up to 3 partners in one group—are to produce a podcast with approximately 3.5 – 4 minutes of contribution per group member in duration (i.e., 1 individual ≈ 3.5 to 4 mins; 2 individuals ≈ 7 – 8 mins; 3 individuals ≈ 10.5 – 12 mins). Your podcast will explore some of the following propositions and questions:
In his seminal work, Discourse on Colonialism, Aimé Césaire asks: “What, fundamentally, is colonization?” Here, you are required to delve into this very simple line of inquiry with greater depth of knowledge and comprehension, with an analysis of contemporary Canadian colonialism that draws on its historical legacy. To do this, consider the following:

1. The prevailing settler narrative has framed colonialism as a benign event of distant history. Canadian civic institutions—from the formal political arena to the spaces of civil society, such as churches and schools—have propagated and sustained a number of tropes about the people (Indigenous populations) and the place (Indigenous territories) that pre-existed the settlement of Canada. Discuss the sharp divergence between settler narratives and what we studied in the readings. Deploy some of the key concepts used by the authors to challenge (or support) the settler and Indigenous perspectives.
2. In your analysis, discuss the politics that both underwrite these narratives and struggle to challenge each. Put another way, how have various political maneuvers been deployed to bolster settler (and, conversely, Indigenous) worldviews of colonialism and settlement in Canada. (Hint: look to the exercise of power and authority by both formal and informal institutions).
3. Link the matters of historical colonialism to our contemporary colonial moment. This will require some familiarity of current events (including, but not limited government policy in recent years).
   Background and Overview of Podcasts:
   For this work, you will require the use of digital voice recording capabilities and editing software. Our smartphones and computers—laptop or desktop—will meet these requirements.
   For those that will be using their own equipment—smartphone or computer—here are some useful links. You can find other helpful tutorials on YouTube from reputable sources.
   Podcast production tutorials:
   o Mac OS GarageBand https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcUBZHOljzU
   o Windows Audacity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAyF-i604Hs

Here is an example produced by our own Sam Yee as an assignment, “Anti-Black Environmental Racism in Canada”: https://anchor.fm/sam-yee/episodes/Anti-Black-Environmental-Racism-in-Canada-e12stua