LIFE STORIES
For the purpose of this assignment, I will be collecting oral history in the form of interviews in papers, recordings or even songs. Oral history can be seen as the very first form of history and pure essence of memory. Experiences about a particular event and feelings are shared by word of mouth among families, friends or even strangers. Oral stories are thus a great way of preserving history in a more diverse understanding. The goal in here is not to obtain absolute truth but guidance about the past. I have decided to shift my collection not entirely but rather focus on oral histories first because of how hard is it for young generation to access ideas, facts or even simple stories about past events. We have little to no ways to find clues on the past especially in less developed countries where recording or photographs came into play no so long ago. Parts or full histories of tribes, social groups or families get completely lost over time. According to Andreas Huyssen, history can be define as ways to provide coherence between past and present while thinking of a future in societies and memories are simple representation of feelings or events from the past but that belong to the present now . So in a way memory make us lose that feeling of borders between what have happened and what is happening somehow. It is a pretty interesting assertion. Indeed ,memories are much more that just a representation of the past, they helped us to connect to the past in a either social, spiritual or political way. Collecting those memories are therefore essential for present and future generations. However oral histories presents some limitations. Interviews measure, perception on a particular topic, encouraging the narrator to remember details, the purpose there is to seek for clarifications or connections among seemingly disconnected recollections, challenge contradictions, evoke assessments of what it all meant then and what it means now. Yet all interviews are shaped by the context within which they are conducted [the purpose of the interview, the extent to which both interviewer and interviewee have prepared for it, their states of mind and physical condition, etc.] as well as the particular interpersonal dynamic between narrator and interviewer [an interview can be a history lecture, a confessional, an exercise in nostalgia, or any other of the dozens of ways people talk about their experiences.] Indeed oral histories might not be seen as face value in the quest of answer about past events or actions but are a great way to honor memories of living individuals. They are also a great way to preserve endangered languages and people personalities traits that might have been a result of a particular event or trend at the times. As opposed to others forms of history, oral histories come with emotions opinions, behaviors; a personal version of history if I can say - a memory.
