The power of autobiography: Djola Branner at TEDxHampshireCollege

DJOLA BRANNER
The Power of Autobiography

This performance/lecture chronicles Djola's life long obsession with first-person narratives, and the surprising revelation that writing and performing autobiographical material affords tremendous personal freedom and cultural agency.

Djola Branner's professional life has been defined by a passion for scripting, staging, and performing original drama, and that passion has defined his approach to teaching. A graduate of San Francisco State University, where he earned an M.A. in creative arts, interdisciplinary studies, and The New School for Drama, where he earned an M.F.A. in theatre. Djola is currently dean of the School for Interdisciplinary Arts, and associate professor of theatre at Hampshire College, where he teaches a broad range of theatre courses.

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In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[yearoldnewdriver]

I started writing my memoir in the Fall of 2014. I am still writing my memoir. I'm a part of the NJCU Writers Workshop that has it's second meeting on September 15, 2016. Memoir is amazing!

[TheDaniPatch]

lol I’ve also been obsessed with Helen Keller.

[LuluHim]

how do I get permission to use my friend's real name in my book? Doesn't he have to sign some legal paper?

[daddysix]

Try growing up a regular Army soldier's kid, raised by a divorced,  professional mother, surrounded by liberal Catholic environs...that are just as Anglo (white), and most definitely anti-military since most liberals of the 60s were definitely against everything going on in Vietnam. But above all this, I find myself in the literal role of first representative of an entire race, by my "lonesome".