Oral Narratives and the Politics of History Making
The Second International Oral History Conference, Oral History Division, Avraham Harman
Institute of Contemporary Jewry. Hebrew University of Jerusalem
December 6 – 8, 2016
The field of oral history was originally founded for the purpose of documenting recollections, to
be used as historical sources. Initially, oral testimonies were considered supplementary sources for
the study of history, especially where written sources were lacking. The study of oral traditions also
enabled an appreciation of the histories of societies that did not have access to literacy or print.
More recently, oral history is increasingly seen as a vital method for broadening and challenging
historical discourse. Interviewees of oral history can be regarded not only as witnesses or
protagonists, who provide primary sources for the historian, but as partners with a ‘shared
authority’ in the production of history. Their insights can offer new perspectives and open
alternative approaches to understanding the past. In addition, oral history has provided powerful
resources for organisations that collect testimonies of victims of repression and violations of
human rights, and for movements committed to recording the stories of disenfranchised groups,
which are often neglected in hegemonic discourse. Moreover, oral history has heightened
awareness to how the recollection, writing and interpretation of the past is influenced by the
present and the social, cultural and political contexts in which personal and collective memories
are constructed and reconstructed.
This oral history conference seeks to address the ways in which oral history practice and research
has challenged dominant myths and to critically re-examine how it has introduced alternative ways
to understand the making of history. It also intends to shed light on instances in which oral history
has been employed in the service of hegemony and to reflexively identify possible weaknesses in
oral history projects. In particular, we wish to explore the place of politics in oral history accounts,
and in their interpretation.
We invite proposals from related areas of studies, such as: History, Anthropology,
Sociology, Psychology, Education, Religion, Museology, Folklore, Cultural Studies, Gender
Studies, Memory Studies, Conflict Studies, Heritage Studies, Trauma Studies, and Qualitative
Research.
Conference Registration fee: $120
Please send proposals of 350-500 words and a short biography to the academic committee by
March 15, 2016
Oralhistory2016@gmail.com
Notification of acceptance will be given by July 1, 2016.