The Delineation of Imagination and Reality in Memoir Writing

From Nowhere-Land to Utopia

In every society, the past persists not only in documents and recorded events, but within memories, narratives, and the collective imagination of the people. What is registered as memory or oral history is often a combination of factual experience and mental reconstruction. Drawing on the concept of imagination in the philosophy of history and memory ...

Comparing the Narratives of Commanders and Ordinary Combatants in the Sacred Defense

An Analysis of Functions and Consequences

The experience of the Sacred Defense cannot be comprehended merely through statistics or official reports; what truly endures from war are the narratives of those who stood upon its frontlines. These narratives, however, vary significantly depending on one’s position, responsibilities, and lived experience.

Oral Narratives: An Open Window into Cultural Discourse

Researchers in the social and cultural sciences, considering the characteristics of oral narratives, can obtain a tangible and vivid picture of what people believe, think, and feel. Unlike official written sources, which are often dry and impersonal, oral narratives are interwoven with ideas, emotions, and lived experiences, and they have the potential to reflect the depth of public culture and the dominant discourse of society.

Prerequisites and Methodology for Compiling Oral History

Within the realm of knowledge and intellectual inquiry, a subtle boundary distinguishes imagination from reality. Imagination, when situated within the domains of literature and art, serves as a driving force of creation, generating worlds of greater beauty and aesthetic depth. However, when this force encroaches upon historical narrative, it transforms into a destructive affliction, undermining the foundations of collective memory.

Review of the Book Matbakh: Memoirs of the Freed Iranian Prisoner of War, Baba-Ali (Sabzali) Ramezanpour

Life in Tikrit Camp No. 12

"From the signboards, I realized they were taking us to Basra. Like a long train, we entered the city. I assumed they wanted to showcase us as a spectacle, to boast that they had captured many prisoners. The people stood on both sides of the street, spitting upon us.

The Unique Position of the Iranian Oral History Website

The topic of "oral history" has only recently become a significant concern among historians in Iran, sparking numerous discussions about its importance and various dimensions. The necessity of addressing this subject has now become evident—especially in today’s world, where, for various reasons, there is an unprecedented and often covert battle between competing narratives.

A Brief Reference

It is generally preferable to have direct and immediate knowledge of an event rather than rely on indirect information. This preference stems from the trustworthiness and accuracy of firsthand experience. When it comes to specific historical events, however, the importance of direct knowledge becomes even greater. This is especially true because such information is meant to be passed down to future generations, helping ...

Clarifying the Current Situation; Perspectives of the Oral History Website

The definition of a “journalist” and the profession of “journalism” is not limited to simply “gathering,” “editing,” and “publishing breaking news.” Such an approach aligns more with the work done in news agencies and news websites. But now, after years of working in the field of books for various news agencies, newspapers, and magazines, when I look back, I realize that producing and compiling content for ...

The Oral History Weekly; A New Window

The ups and downs of everyday life sometimes cause me to forget certain duties and missions, including oral history—especially its form related to the Holy Defense! But when Wednesday comes and I receive an issue of the Oral History weekly journal, a new window opens before me. Each title, article, viewpoint, and memory becomes a chapter for reflection in that realm. Although the scientific aspect of the journal is useful to me, its psychological value improves my mood even more.

The Days Long Past of this Tale

I go back to the earliest “oral” stories—when we played aunty games in the courtyard, in the corner of the porch. One day, quite unintentionally, I overheard a conversation between Mom and Miss. Balakhanem, our neighbor from years ago. At that time, there were barely enough television channels to count on one hand, and I remember that the series Madame Kouri was broadcast on Wednesdays.
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Book Review:

Oral History of 40 Years

One of the main hypotheses regarding the reason for the growth and expansion of oral history in the modern era relates to the fact that oral history is the best tool for addressing lesser-known topics of contemporary history. Topics that, particularly because little information is available about them, have received less attention.

Omissions in the Editing of Oral History

After the completion of interview sessions, the original recordings are archived, the interviews are transcribed, proofread, and re-listened to. If the material possesses the qualities required for publication in the form of an article or a book, the editing process must begin. In general, understanding a verbatim transcription of an interview is often not straightforward and requires editing so that it may be transformed into a fluent, well-documented text that is easy to comprehend.
Experts’ Answers to Oral History Questions

100 Questions/8

 We asked several researchers and activists in the field of oral history to express their views on oral history questions. The names of each participant are listed at the beginning of their answers, and the text of all answers will be published on this portal by the end of the week. The goal of this project is to open new doors to an issue and promote scientific discussions in the field of oral history.

The Role of Objects in Oral Narrative

Philosophers refer to anything that exists—or possesses the potential to exist—as an object. This concept may manifest in material forms, abstract notions, and even human emotions and lived experiences. In other words, an object encompasses a vast spectrum of beings and phenomena, each endowed with particular attributes and characteristics, and apprehensible in diverse modalities.
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