Good morning, everyone,
I’m really excited to announce four new videos in our Tech Comm Examples Series on More Than Memos. Together these examples demonstrate the breadth of modalities, tones, and subjects that connect to technical and professional communication. These videos have already influenced my perceptions of TPC and the way I teach TPC courses. I hope you find them as helpful as I have.
The Trans Handy Ma’am – by Rachael Jordan
Rachael discusses the home renovation tiktok account by Mercury Stardust (AKA The Trans Handy Ma’am). As previously discussed by Derek Sparby at ATTW24, these videos represent a kind of compassionate approach to DIY that can serve as an example of “nontraditional, joyful” tech comm.
How To Plan for Action – by RJ Lambert
RJ describes a widely circulated zine “How to Plan for Action” which leads readers through what to bring to a protest, what to expect at a protest, and how to talk to police. The guidelines represent anti-institutional forms of technical communication and the simultaneous ethos of rebellion and care.
The eSalon Custom Haircare Kit – by Joanna Collins
Joanna shares her experience with her own custom haircare kit from eSalon. Though the instructions take innovative and delightful approaches to packaging, their marketing materials still fail to represent the range of bodies and hair types that use their product. The instructions are an interesting example of embodied instructions, but also the challenges of personalization.
https://youtu.be/tmiretIoWxk?si=N1y25YkKP1FehIjI
The Yoshi’s Story N64 Game Manual – by Reid Johnson
Reid presents a video game instructions manual for Yoshi’s Story, first released for the N64 in 1997. Reid makes the case that manuals like this can work as an accessible introduction to technical communication for students who might be initially overwhelmed or uninterested in other technical manuals and style guides. These manuals are also readily available on the internet archive, and are an easy document to fold into a class conversation on genre.
Here is a playlist of all the videos in the series:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJBJWirAkIu0-nRz_d_tH3D0798L20Hjo
We have several other videos in the pipeline that should be coming out over the next few months! If you want to contribute to this series, look for our CFV (Call for videos) in the spring. As always, please share these with your students, and like, subscribe, and share videos from our channel.
Best,
Dan
Daniel Liddle, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of English
Western Kentucky University
Managing Producer
More Than Memos YouTube Channel