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E-Thesis 203 views

SOS Podcasts: Surviving in Deutschland / ROSAMARIA MANCINI

Swansea University Author: ROSAMARIA MANCINI

  • E-Thesis – open access under embargo until: 13th April 2027

DOI (Published version): 10.23889/SUthesis.63393

Abstract

The first part of this thesis is the creative work, a memoir, SOS Podcasts: Surviving in Deutschland. The memoir is narrated in the present continuing voice by the author, a quirky, assertive urbanite from New York. The work is an exploration of self and podcasts while living for a four-year period...

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Published: Swansea, Wales, UK 2023
Institution: Swansea University
Degree level: Doctoral
Degree name: Ph.D
Supervisor: Britton, David J. and Preece, Julian E.
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa63393
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Abstract: The first part of this thesis is the creative work, a memoir, SOS Podcasts: Surviving in Deutschland. The memoir is narrated in the present continuing voice by the author, a quirky, assertive urbanite from New York. The work is an exploration of self and podcasts while living for a four-year period on the outskirts of a NATO base in a rural, little-known part of Germany. The differences are challenging (also entertaining), and podcasts begin to serve as a support mechanism for the lonely, isolated author. They also serve as friends and encouraging mentors. The themes explored include parenting, aging, food, weather, holidays, language, and comedy among others. The situation becomes more complex and conflicted when the four years are nearly finished and there is a possibility of staying in Germany indefinitely.The succeeding exegesis is the lens through which to view the creative work, the memoir writing genre, also known as life writing, and the related literary theory. In part one, the personal chain of events that led to the creation of the memoir are explained by sharing background information about the author and her beginnings. The organization and writing style are examined through the comparison of other memoirs, in particular memoirs driven by special topics and activities, as well as interesting familial situations. The author’s listening experience is explained through the genres of podcasts including news, information, and entertainment. The author also studied the parasocial interactions that people develop with members of the media. Furthermore, the critical and theoretical life writing literature is studied through an examination of confessional memoirs and motherhood memoirs. Finally, the craft of life writing is examined. In part two, the history of podcasting and the evolving technologies showed the media’s expansion and explained why podcasts began to occupy a larger role in the author’s life and therefore the subject of this topical memoir. Lastly, the author argued for a new form of orality and studied podcasting’s impact on the democratization of radio and audio.
Keywords: Memoir
College: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences