Publication of Oral History Theory in Persian
Mohammad Ali Fatemi
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian
2018-7-31
“Oral History Theory” by Lynn Abrams, translated by Fathali Ashtiani was published by the Office of Islamic Revolution Literature and Soureh Mehr Publication in 2018.
The book is structured in 421 pages and eight chapters: the introduction transforms the applicable approach to theoretic, the characteristics of oral history, self, subjectivity, intersubjectivity, memory, narrative, performance and power. Couple of forewords and introductions precede the eight chapters and then followed by the references used to compile the eight chapters of the book.
One introduction mentions that “in Iran … key themes discussed in the field of oral history are drawn upon the studies of foreign elite. Undoubtedly, to reach the theoretic frameworks and applicable methodology to study historical issues and events in Iran … studying the theoretic principles and methodology of oral history studies through translation of relevant material is necessary… translation of this book was also based on the very same need…”
The translator has elaborated that “Oral History Science in Iran is still in its infancy and the concepts and expressions applied fall short of proper and precise Farsi equivalent and definition. Hence, I’ve tried to find proper and understandable and equal concepts in Farsi for the foreign concepts introduced.”
The definitions of certain themes introduced in the book are very interesting and might be very effective in the works of those pursuing oral history methodology or apply such methods in their studies; including: what is oral history? Record of interviews and transcription, various types of personal accounts, prevailing arrangements in oral history, research necessities, methods of ‘self” narrative, intersubjectivity in interviews, self-biography, memory and emotional harms, collective memory, relativity of personal and collective memory, what is narrative? Narrative analysis, narrative structure analysis, gender and ethnicity in narrative, origins of oral history and performance and application of performance theory and oral history, elite oral history, etc…
In the last page, it has been stated that “the aim and objective of compiling the book is to introduce effective theories in oral history material analysis in a user-friendly language to the historians. We have drawn the roadmap of this methodology in our path…the most interesting aspect of applicable oral history methodology is far beyond the mere capability to approach preliminary resources and building a relationship but it is an opportunity to design novel analytical and expository approaches originating from the desire of the respondent to understand the meaning …. Oral history is something like: our respondents tell their stories and during this process and after, the importance of their stories come to light for the narrator and the interviewer. We hope that these theories and their applications as introduced in this book will assist researchers in the better and deeper understanding of this process.”
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Validation: Challenges and Necessities
Where does truth stand in oral history? How can the correctness of a narrative be recognized? Does fact-checking matter? If there is exaggeration in the reporting of some accounts, how can it be detected? Is it possible to record an event accurately through the recording of a narrative? Readers and users of oral history works are often faced with these questions, and sometimes encounter doubts about some oral history works.From Revolutionary Circles to the Military Arm of the Islamic Government
In those days, it became clear that certain institutions had to be established very quickly—institutions suited to the temperament, expectations, and lingering aspirations of the younger generation; young people who had been politically active before the Revolution and, in some cases, had been directly entangled in arrests, imprisonment, ...Authenticating Oral History: From Possibility to Necessity
The use of oral history as one of the historical sources has long been one of the principal challenges facing oral historians and those who employ it in contemporary historiography. The development of international standards for oral history, as well as IRIB standards, was intended to address the criticisms raised in this regard. The relationship between Diplomatics in written records and oral history is reciprocal.100 Questions/27
What is the place of research ethics in compiling oral history?We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week.
