Memory and Oral History

Oral history records the living memory of first-hand witnesses of the past and opens new pathways for the reconstruction and interpretation of recent history. The unique nature of oral sources and life stories places oral history at the intersection between history, anthropology and the psychology of memory. This course offers an introduction to oral history interviewing, the study of life stories and social memory, and oral history theory. A group of nine students conducted their own interviews on cinema, as a form of popular entertainment in Volos city.

Objectives

The goal of this course is to introduce the students to the basic theoretical problematizations, methods and techniques of oral history and memory studies.

Prerequisites

No prior knowledge is required.

Syllabus

What is oral history? Written and oral sources. Oral history evidence Memory and subjectivity The interview. Equipment The interview as social relationship. Ethics. After the interview What is memory and how does it work? The construction of memory– Maurice Halbwachs. The interpretation of interviews Applied oral history