Oral History: Theory and Practice

Catalog description

History, as most of us are taught it in school, has long been written by, and for, the powerful. Oral history, while it has long been practiced informally, was developed as a formal academic approach and research method by scholars and activists in the mid-20th century in order to infuse and nuance history with the voices and histories of disempowered groups including people of color, women, indigenous communities, differently-abled people, political radicals, laborers and the working poor, and the LGBTQ+ community. In this course, we'll form a foundational understanding of the practice of oral history, explore the context of its origins and uses, and examine its undergirding ethics and principles that shape it as a mode of research. We'll read, listen to, and practice analyzing existing oral histories by developing deep listening skills, attending carefully to what is being said (and by whom) and what is omitted. As the capstone experience of the course, students will design, carry out, and analyze oral history projects of their own.