Alessandro Portelli, professor Emeritus of American Literature at the Universita’ di Roma, La Sapienza—Portelli is known today as an Oral historian bridging the gap between the idea of History as a factual, objective reality and the subjective nature of historical memory.
I interviewed Portelli on October 15 before a talk he was intending to give to university students about history, memory and his new book on the American musician, Bruce Springsteen.
I was in search of a real-life and academically viable source in order to provide more guidance to my students and anyone interested in embarking and conducting their own Oral History.
Due to timing and circumstance, the interview was brief and the setting a bit noisy, [outside in Piazza Sanniti, Rome, Italy], however; Portelli's message about Oral History and his words on conducting an Oral History of one’s own were clear and easily understood. His words can be used as a brief and general guide said by a figure that has had many an experience in the field and has built a solid reputation in its study.
I interviewed Portelli on October 15 before a talk he was intending to give to university students about history, memory and his new book on the American musician, Bruce Springsteen.
I was in search of a real-life and academically viable source in order to provide more guidance to my students and anyone interested in embarking and conducting their own Oral History.
Due to timing and circumstance, the interview was brief and the setting a bit noisy, [outside in Piazza Sanniti, Rome, Italy], however; Portelli's message about Oral History and his words on conducting an Oral History of one’s own were clear and easily understood. His words can be used as a brief and general guide said by a figure that has had many an experience in the field and has built a solid reputation in its study.
The Oral History Lesson plan
| Oral History Lesson Page 1 |
| Oral History Lesson Page 2 |