LMKB_a425 Life Storying in Oral History and (Auto)Biography

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2019
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Dr. Jarmila Mildorf (lecturer), Mgr. Zuzana Fonioková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Mgr. Zuzana Fonioková, Ph.D. (alternate examiner)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Zbyněk Fišer, Ph.D.
Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Eva Zachová
Supplier department: Department of Czech Literature – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 22. 10. 8:00–11:40 B2.43, Wed 23. 10. 10:00–13:40 B2.43, Thu 24. 10. 10:00–13:40 B2.43
Prerequisites
ability to read texts and follow lectures and discussions in English
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 22 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/22, only registered: 0/22, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/22
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 24 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
In this course, we will look at how people tell their life stories in oral history as well as in autobiography. Both modes require attention to different aspects of the storytelling process that are closely connected to its contexts of production: orality on the one hand and writing on the other. We will look at theoretical questions surrounding life storying in those contexts. For the (auto)biographical texts to be examined in class (Jeannette Walls’ Half Broke Horses and Neil Patrick Harris’ Choose Your Own Autobiography), we will discuss concepts such as the “autobiographical pact” (Lejeune) between reader and autobiographer that also touches on such troubled notions as ‘authenticity’ and ‘truthfulness’. Furthermore, we will address questions of (narrative) identity, narrative design and its sense-making functions, as well as aspects of fictionalization. In the context of oral history interviews, the interview situation with its dialogical setup plays an important role. Here, we will specifically look at the communicative situation, the audience design in what storytellers reveal about themselves and also the co-constructedness of oral history narratives.
Syllabus
  • Session 1 Oral History: general introduction
  • Session 2 Oral history project: to be announced
  • Session 3 Autobiography: general introduction
  • Session 4 Telling someone else’s story: Jeannette Walls: Half Broke Horses
  • Session 5 Playfulness in autobiography: Neil Patrick Harris: Choose your Own Autobiography
  • Session 6 Summary and discussion
Teaching methods
seminars, discussions, pre-class reading
Assessment methods
Students are expected to participate in at least four sessions (ideally all six sessions). At the end of the semester, students will hand in a report (in English or in Czech) on three sessions of their own choice (except for the last, wrap-up session). The report on each session will include a critical summary of the assigned reading, the main ideas discussed in class, and the student's own reflection.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 0.
Teacher's information
The course is taught in 3 blocks within one week by Dr. Jarmila Mildorf from Paderborn University. The schedule will be as follows: Tue 22/10 8:00-11:40 room B2.43; Wed 23/10 10:00-13:40 room B2.43; Thu 24/10 10:00-13:40 room B2.43.
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