Memory, narrative and oral history
The Center for Oral History and the Institute of History of the University of Iceland are organizing a symposium at the National Library on October 8th from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM entitled Memory, Narrative and Oral History .
The symposium will discuss the interplay of memory, recollections and oral history and how historians and anthropologists have grappled with it in their own research. The symposium's special guest is Mats Greiff, professor at Malmö University, who will discuss oral history as a method of examining history "from below" and its connection to gender, class, ethnicity and generations. Following this, Greiff will assess the state of oral history today and its future potential. In addition to Greiff, short presentations will be given by: Guðmundur Jónsson, Halldóra Kristinsdóttir, Íris Ellenberger, Nína Rós Ísberg, Sólrún Jóhannesdóttir, Þorsteinn Helgason and Örn Hrafnkelsson.
At the symposium, the National and University Library of Iceland's new cataloging system will be officially launched, which will completely transform users' access to audio material in the library's possession.
Agenda:
14:00-14:10 Örn Hrafnkelsson, Director of the National and University Library of Iceland: Opening of the symposium.
14:10-14:20 Guðmundur Jónsson, professor of history: Is the Center OK? Benefits and unresolved issues in the work of the Center for Oral History.
14:20:14:35 Halldóra Kristinsdóttir, project manager at the National and University Library of Iceland, and Örn Hrafnkelsson: A breakthrough in the transmission of the spoken word. Presentation of the National Library's new cataloging system.
14:35-14:55 Íris Ellenberger, historian: National memories and oral history in light of queer nationalism.
14:55–15:15 Nína Rós Ísberg, anthropologist: "We are the forgotten and lost women." Anthropology and oral history.
15:15-15:30 Coffee break
The National Library offers coffee and pastries
15:30-16:10 Mats Greiff, professor at Malmö University: Oral History, Methodology, Theory and Ideology.
16:10–16:30 Þorsteinn Helgason, Associate Professor of History, and Sólrún Jóhannesdóttir, BA in History and Film Studies: Memory, the Self and Conversation.