History Scholar
Oral History of Economic Features Is Neglected
Shima Donyadar Rostami
Translated by Natalie Haghverdian
2019-01-22
"Recently, oral history is used as a tool for contemporary history, and it can be cited in this field. Oral history is recognized as one of the pillars of the history of the people, a history that is mentioned and discussed with the approach of "Downstream history" (writing history from the lower levels of the society)”, said Hooria Saeedi, a scholar of history to the correspondent of the Iranian oral history site.
"In our society, where the oral history debate is a concept in its infancy, its startup process is of crucial importance and “interview” is the starting point of recording oral history. The type of communication that interviewers and interviewees establish (the interaction) is very important”, she said by stating that the oral history gaps in every society correspond to the issues prevailing and differ.
The author of "Memories and Hazards: Oral History Interview with Dr. Seyed Kumal Kharrazi" emphasized: "The approach to oral history recording cannot be directorial. No organization can genuinely take measures to record actual oral history through directorial approach. First a two-way, human relationship must be created between the interviewer and the interviewee, and then there are other issues such as questions, how to respond to each question, reactions to responses, rise of new questions after each response are to be addressed; it is the curious mind of the interviewer that should be engaged in the subject of the interview. "
"Explaining the characteristics of the oral history interviewer," she said: "Of course, not everybody can be an interviewer. The interviewer must be the one who is both well versed on the subject and have preliminary studies. Meanwhile, they should have strong social skills. These are the prerequisites of recording of oral history. Part of this introduction is acquired through training and some is acquisitive. The next step is transcription of the interview and then compilation which vary under different circumstances."
According to Saeedi, each type of compilation and production serves its value however the most important point is to preserve the most important information and data gained during the interview. In compilation and production, irrelevant information shall not dominate the bulk of it. In fact, footnotes in the oral history works shall not overcome the main content or affect it.
Author of “Shah va Jenab Agha” stated that as a result of training workshops held on the topic of oral history some gaps have been filled and continued: “The trainers in oral history workshops should be carefully selected from those who have worked in the field for long years. Generally, those who have been involved in compiling information in the field of oral history after the imposed war are more experienced and it is useful to present the type of oral history existing in Iran based on their work.”
According to this scholar of history, considering that political issues usually supersede other issues, the activities in the field of oral history of political features has been extensive; while the oral history of economic features has been neglected. Attending the political features has its own advantages but it does not cover the whole oral history.
Number of Visits: 2283
The latest
Most visited
A Look at the Book “Operational Physicians-2”
Biography, Memories and Viewpoints of Dr. Mohammad Ali Attari, Professor and Specialist in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine and PainIn the book “Field Physicians 2”, after acknowledgement, we first come to a short text written by Dr. Mohammad Ali Attari, and on the next page to a photograph, as it is stated under the photo, taken with Professor Majid Samii in the operating room (Germany, Hannover). After that the content, the editor introduction, and then “Biography at a Glance” which is a six-page summary of the book text, are presented.
Iranian Oral History beyond Borders – 2
Dr. Abolfazl Hasanabadi, Dr. Morteza Rasouli Pour, and Dr. Abolhasani participated in the fourth meeting out of the series of meetings on oral history in Iran held online on Saturday 11th of Dey 1400 (January 1, 2022) hosted by Mrs. Mosafa. In the meeting set up in the History Hallway of the Clubhouse, they talked about “Iran’s Oral History beyond Borders”. In continuation of the meeting, the host asked ...Ironman
We were supposed to experience a hot summer day at seven oclock in the afternoon. I got to his house in ten minutes to seven, but I knew that working with the militant had special rules. One of them is punctuality. I went up and down the alley several times to meet this Ironman at his house. When I saw him from afar at military conferences, his sense of toughness was evident in demeanor."You Must Survive"!
Memoirs of Haj Ali Karami, Commander of the "Habib ibn Madhahir" Battalion of the 10th Martyrs Division. "The bullet was hit in the middle of the column. There was no wounded or martyred person; whatever there was, it was just amputated arms and amputated legs and torn pieces of bodies that had been piled up... Once, I saw the forces of the Basij forces staring at those scenes in astonishment. I swallowed saliva and shouted:
