Only After Death Do Us Part? Contemporary Biography, Oral History, and Writing about Living People Today
Only After Death Do Us Part? Contemporary Biography, Oral History, and Writing about Living People Today
Author(s): Jana Markupová WolmuthSubject(s): Studies of Literature, History of ideas, Oral history, Social history, Sociolinguistics
Published by: Univerzita Karlova v Praze - Fakulta humanitních studií
Keywords: contemporary biography; oral history; biographical research; contemporary history; methodology;
Summary/Abstract: This essay explores contemporary biography, focusing on biographical research about living people within historical sciences. It emphasizes oral history's use in biographies, illustrating two ideal-typical roles for the protagonist: a relatively "silent" participant and a more "vocal" one. The essay addresses challenges like negotiating researcher-subject roles, authorization, research ethics, legislation, and the approach's pros and cons. It aims to broaden theoretical and methodological discussions in biography studies and demonstrates the long tradition of oral history-based contemporary biographies.
Journal: Dějiny - Teorie - Kritika
- Issue Year: 2025
- Issue No: 01
- Page Range: 81-102
- Page Count: 22
- Language: English
