Oral History Interviewing: Old and New Challenges, Oral History Victoria Symposium 2019 CFP

16 June 2019, 10am-4pm, Museo Italiano, 199 Faraday St Carlton, Melbourne.

Interviewing is at the core of oral history, and much has been written and debated about the challenges that oral historians face when interviewing their informants. In a rapidly changing and globalising world dominated by new media and technologies, these challenges become even more complex. Yet they also open new opportunities for oral historians to make their work heard through podcasts and social media and beyond.

Oral History Victoria invites proposals for presentations about the practice of oral history interviewing as well as theory and methodology, which will allow us to reflect on and learn about the new tools, skills, challenges and opportunities oral historians should consider.

We’re looking for presenters of all varieties – community and professional historians, students, academics – and at all stages of their careers. Please send submissions to contact@oralhistoryvictoria.org.au by 10 of May 2019. Be sure to include your name, organisation (if applicable), contact phone number and email, plus a 100-word abstract and a one sentence bio. Please also describe the type of presentation you propose, which might be a 20-minute talk, a 5 minute ‘lightning presentation’, a workshop activity, a poster presentation or a thematic panel.

Suggested themes include:

  • Interviewing for oral history podcasts and other digital and social media
  • Issues of gender, class, ‘race’, privilege, ethnicity, ability and sexuality in collecting oral history interviews
  • The relationship between interviewer and interviewee
  • Cross-cultural and multilingual interviewing: specific challenges
  • Family history interviews: specific challenges
  • Ethical issues in oral history interviews
  • The ability to listen and other essential interviewing skills

Submissions due 10 May 2019