Rewriting Public Memory: Documentary Filmmaking and the Restoration of Rose Hill.

Rose Hill Plantation, located in Union South Carolina, along the banks of the Tyger River, and surrounded by Sumter National Forest, originally served as the home of William Henry Gist, a wealthy upstate South Carolinian and the secession Governor. At its peak, the plantation held 150+ enslaved laborers. This work explores the potential for documentary filmmaking to reshape public memory and challenge dominant narratives surrounding American history. Drawing on the example of Restoring Rose Hill, a participatory documentary about the legacy of slavery at this former Confederate plantation, documentary functions as a tool for generating dialogue and communicating alternative histories. Using feminist and participatory video frameworks, the film highlights the complex histories of marginalized groups that have been left out of official memorialization efforts, while also exposing the challenges of negotiating contested and uncomfortable pasts. Ultimately, documentary offers a unique opportunity to address pressing issues of injustice and inequality by using storytelling to create more inclusive visions of collective memory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]