Oral history and folklore archives in the digital realm: the experience of the Cork Folklore Project

Oral history and folklore archives in the digital realm: the experience of the Cork Folklore Project

When: Wednesday, January 31st, 12 pm
Where: DH Active Learning Space, Food Science Building 4.58
Presentations last ~45mins, followed by short discussion
 
Oral history and folklore archives in the digital realm: the experience of the Cork Folklore Project
Clíona O’Carroll
 
Abstract
 
Increased use of digital media has led to an opening-up of opportunities for oral history and folklore archives and takes place in a context of expectations on the part of researchers, browsers, the public and digital humanities practitioners that may sometimes be at odds with certain core characteristics of the collections. Should archivists and curators assert the particularities of the collections and their value as research, community and creative resources, in a way that shapes expectations around digital engagement as much as being shaped by them? The digital strategies of the community-based Cork Folklore Project will be discussed in this context.
About the Speaker
 
Clíona O’Carroll lectures in Folklore and Ethnology/Béaloideas in University College, Cork. She is Research Director of the community-based Cork Folklore Project since 2010 and has coordinated collection projects, radio productions, online digital story mapping and publication projects with the CFP. She is currently collaborating with CFP staff on the preparation of the CFP’s archive catalogue for online access. Memory and narrative, qualitative interviewing methodology and maritime folklore are among her research interests.
Readings
Gluck, S.B. (2014) ‘Reflecting on the Quantum Leap: Promises and Perils of Oral History on the Web’, Oral History Review, 41(2): 244-256.
O’Carroll, C. (2015) ‘Digital Pathways: Questions of Digital Curation for Archives of Everyday Experience’, Béaloideas, 83: 34-53.
Sheftel, A. and Zembrzycki, S. (2017) ‘Slowing Down to Listen in the Digital Age: How New Technology Is Changing Oral History Practice’, Oral History Review, 44(1): 94-112.
Tebeau, M. (2013) ‘Listening to the City: Oral History and Place in the Digital Era’, Oral History Review 40(1): 25-35.
Oral History in the Digital Age: http://ohda.matrix.msu.edu