Journey Proud by Joey Brackner (review)

In 2011, Alabama Public Television's Production Director Christopher Holmes found himself inspired by his research and fieldwork travels with Alabama state folklorist Joey Brackner. These fieldwork trips led to the development of Journey Proud, initially a nine-episode series that premiered on Alabama Public Television in 2012. Thirty-six episodes are available online for free at www.journeyproudalabama.com. Part travel documentary, part fieldwork, and part personal encounter, Journey Proud emerges as a series that not only highlights the cultural heritage of Alabama but also illustrates the work of a public folklorist.

This project is not simply a product of state public television, but a collaboration with the Alabama State Council of the Arts, which houses the Alabama Center for Traditional Culture (ACTC). Since 1990, ACTC has served as a folk arts granting agency that also produces educational programs and products to "identify, preserve and present Alabama folklife." Alabama Center for Traditional Culture activities include research and fieldwork; the production of Alabama Arts Radio, CDs, and exhibits; and the bestowal of Folk Heritage Awards to outstanding tradition bearers throughout the state of Alabama.

The diversity of episode topics includes a variety of genres, ethnicities, geographic regions of the state, occupations, and religions. Examples include the hunting traditions of turkey calling; worm fishing and squirrel hunting; religious traditions such as Greek iconography and fleet blessings; music-based episodes that explore music camp and music's role in a Future Farmers of America convention; and folk speech (there are separate episodes for the dialects of North and South Alabama).

This review addresses two episodes: "Iconography" and "Bayou La Batre." The first features Brackner along with folklorist Anne Kimzey, also of ACTC, as they learn about the traditions of iconography within the Greek Orthodox community of Birmingham. Brackner and Kimzey begin by talking with Father Paul Costopoulos of Holy Trinity-Holy Cross Cathedral, who teaches them about the architectural and design traditions of Eastern Orthodox culture, as well as the beliefs and values that come with such traditions. The level of respect for the tradition bearers within this episode, as well as others, is one of the highlights of the series. While Brackner and Kimzey seek to document the traditions for public knowledge and ask questions that the public might ask, they do not overpower the people they are learning from. This approach brings a high level of cultural humility to the series and makes it more personal for the viewer.

As Brackner and Kimzey are filmed traveling in Brackner's truck to visit iconographer Elias Katsaros in Huntsville, they talk about the process of documentation and the promotion of traditional arts. Kimzey, who coordinates Alabama's master-apprentice grant program, speaks about the program and its benefits. The inclusion of such discussions in the episode not only brings the subject of traditional culture to a wider audience but also promotes the general understanding of the work of folklorists. Furthermore, Kimzey's own media expertise as a contributor to Alabama Arts Radio is part of the discussion. This illustrates the variety of traditional arts programs available to public audiences in Alabama and beyond.

As Brackner meets with Katsaros in his home studio, Brackner steps back and allows the attention to be on the teachings and wisdom of the artist. Viewers learn how he became an iconographer, the details involved in the process of iconography, and the occupational knowledge and beliefs required to become a master artist. This focus on the process, rather than the product, is prominent; Katsaros talks about color, shadow, and perspective, while also discussing how he works to teach his three apprentices. Brackner and his film crew, through highlighting the work of Katsaros in his home studio, the Birmingham church, and the Hunts ville Museum of Art, demonstrate the impact and influence of Katsaros' artistry.

While many episodes focus on artistic practices, such as visual or performing arts, other episodes address occupational culture, such as the "Bayou La Batre...