How do different generations of Australians reflect upon the big topics of their lives, like love, relationships and family and transitions from school to work to parenthood? For full story and download audio here.
Tag: Australian Generations Project
“Australian Lives: An Intimate History” book launched
A new book Australian Lives: An Intimate History by Anisa Puri and Alistair Thomson (Monash University Press) $39.95 provides glimpses of Australian lives from the 1920s to the 1980s. Culled from 1500 hours of oral history interviews, the ebook will link each story to the National Library of Australia's online collection so readers can listen to the story direct. See full story here.
Anisa Puri discusses oral history project
OHR: The article highlights the importance of the aurality of oral histories – of actually listening to the words as opposed to just seeing them printed on the page. In your work, how do you see this emerging awareness changing the field of oral history in general?
Anisa Puri: I think this is a really important shift. As oral historians, we know how essential it is to listen to an interview in order to interpret it. By listening, we observe and interpret meanings that are often lost in an interview transcript or summary. Speech carries meaning—whether it’s the quickening of the pace, the softening of a tone, or a pregnant pause. The cadence and emotional qualities of a voice offer important aural clues for us to interpret. Appreciating the importance of aurality extends into how we present oral history in creative and immersive ways too, whether it’s via a website, podcast, digital story, art installation, audio walking tour, museum exhibition or heritage interpretation.
For full story click here.
OHAA National Conference – Australian Generations Project
Australian Generations: an oral history of our living memory.
6.00 pm 20 September 2013, Allan Scott Auditorium, University of South Australia, City West Campus, 55 North Terrace, Adelaide.
Professor Alistair Thomson
Project Leader of the Australian Generations Oral History Project and
Professor of History and Head of School of Philosophical, Historical and
International Studies, Monash University, Victoria.
Alistair was introduced by Dr Susan Marsden, History Council of South Australia, and spoke about the Australian Generations Project (http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/australian-generations/) and its main parts:
- How the project was created and the challenges along the way; and
- How they will use the material.
Kevin Bradley from the National Library wanted to create a big social oral history project similar to one done in 1938 which covered the period from 1880s to 1920s. Funds were received from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and the project heads resolved to interview 50 people in each decade up to 1980s. ABC Radio National was due to air the first interview on 27 October 2013 on the “Hindsight” program [will now be aired 3 November]. It will be similar to “The Century Speaks”, a British project involving 6,000 interviews (http://sounds.bl.uk/accents-and-dialects/millenium-memory-bank).
Expressions of interest were sought for the project. The interviewees were chosen after their expressions of interest were read. Those choosing were able to get a sense of who would be interesting. People who seemed to be advocating a particular cause were not chosen, neither were those with mental health problems. Choices were sometimes based on hunches, wariness, demographics, and diversity. Photographs were taken at the time of the interview – a head shot and in situ with objects etc.
Audio – life story interviews can be up to many hours, averaging five hours, done in two hour sessions. Both the interviewer and interviewee valued the time in between to reflect, and this benefited the next stage of the interview. Various themes were covered including faith and belief. The interviews looked at the changes in family roles. There are multiple factors in lives including cultural and social changes. Interviewees would focus on an area of particular interest and for the most part, they want to tell their story. At the end of the interview we would ask “How did you feel about being interviewed?” It can be a cathartic experience and can trigger forgotten memories, sometimes taking you into unexplored territory.
There was a training day for all the interviewers. There are no transcripts, which forces people to listen to the interview. Material is easily researchable and accessible; however some will be embargoed for 50 years.
Outcomes for the project include an anthology, e-book and link to audio on-line. The project is about the past and the significance of that past, exploring undocumented lives.
Suzanne Mulligan