Oral Histories and Futures: Methodological Innovations in Times of Crisis
Venue
OnlineDescription
In this seminar, Dr Hall will showcase Oral Histories and Futures as a transformative interviewing method.
About this event
This webinar forms part of the Research Training Centre's Talking Methods seminar series delivered in association with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science (SGSSS).
Abstract
Over recent years social scientists have been experimenting with exciting innovations to biographical interviewing and oral history methods, such as with the inclusion of walking, mapping and other participatory techniques. In this seminar, Dr Sarah Marie Hall will showcase the example of Oral Histories and Futures as a transformative interviewing method. Developed as part of a recent study exploring reproduction, austerity and the lifecourse, the method aims to elicit people’s experiences and opinions about their pasts, present and futures by innovating with traditional oral histories. Five areas of innovation – and associated observations, opportunities and obstacles – will be outlined, including: a focus on younger people, on the future, the inclusion of reflexive activities, conducting the interviews online, and interviewing in the midst of crises. To close, Dr Hall will touch on further avenues for deploying Oral Histories and Futures, and the potential of a synthesised temporal approach to lifecourse research.
Biography
Dr Sarah Marie Hall is a Reader in Human Geography at the University of Manchester. Her research sits in the broad field of geographical feminist political economy: understanding how socio-economic processes are shaped by gender relations, lived experience and social difference. Dr Hall's research interests and contributions focus on three key areas: everyday life and economic change; social reproduction, care, ethics and consumption; and feminist praxis.
Key speakers
- Dr Sarah Marie Hall, University of Manchester