Analysing and interpreting the interviews
Subjectivity
Students are introduced to the concept that oral history’s strength lies in the subjective retelling of events. The narrative is enriched by personal perspectives, lived experiences, and reflections of the narrator. Exploring subjectivity involves understanding the narrator’s identity, perspective, experiences, and interpretations, offering insights into the meaning of the past for individuals.
Orality & Embodiment
The oral nature of these sources adds a layer of complexity. Students are guided to consider aspects such as intonation, rhythm, and velocity, which convey the narrator’s attitude. Understanding orality is intertwined with embodiment, acknowledging the impact of the body and facial expressions on vocalization. Students explore how seeing and hearing the narrator contributes to interpreting their testimony.
Performance
Interviews inherently become performances, shaped by the interviewer’s presence and the purpose of recording. Factors like video recording equipment and public accessibility influence how narrators present their stories. Students scrutinize the narrator’s surroundings, dress, language, and overall performance, unraveling the implications of these choices on the interpretation of their testimony.
Narrative
Memory’s tendency to construct narratives is explored, particularly in oral history where personal experiences are retold as narratives. Students analyze how oral history interviews, as a specific narrative form, position the narrator as the protagonist. This involves examining how narratives reflect or challenge dominant historical narratives and identifying narrative features like themes, symbols, and motifs.
Presentation
Recognizing that interviews are shaped by how they are presented, students delve into the impact of framing, editing, and contextual information. This includes understanding the provenance and purpose of the source (website, film, TV program), considering how presentation elements affect the testimony, and evaluating the source’s impact.
Role of the interviewer
Students acknowledge the interviewer’s pivotal role in initiating the interview and shaping the source’s creation. The intersubjectivity between interviewer and narrator is highlighted, emphasizing how the relationship influences the narrative. Factors like age, gender, and cultural background can impact this relationship, leading to a unique narrative shaped collaboratively.
Memory-work
Memory is not just a source but also a subject in oral history. Students explore different layers of memory, such as individual and collective memory, and examine how testimonies reflect shared cultural patterns. Understanding memory-work involves considering what has been remembered, why, and how contextual factors shape the narrator’s recollections.
Forgetting & silences
Students critically assess what is omitted or left unsaid in interviews. Exploring forgetting involves understanding individual and collective lapses in memory. Silences, both literal and metaphorical, are examined, with students considering possible causes like trauma, societal norms, or imposed restrictions. Identifying the unspoken enhances the understanding of the narrative’s complexities.
In navigating these concepts, students are reminded of their interrelated nature, discouraging a rigid sequential approach. This holistic guide equips students to unravel the intricacies of audiovisual oral histories, fostering a nuanced and critical understanding of historical narratives.
