CFP: Oral History and Ethics, Helsinki, December 3-4, 2008

First Call For Papers

Oral History and Ethics

Helsinki, 3–4 December 2008

Papers are invited for contributions to the Oral History and Ethics symposium hosted by the Finnish Literature Society in collaboration with the Graduate School of Cultural Interpretations, the Department of Folklore Studies, University of Helsinki and the Finnish Oral History Network (FOHN).

The Oral History and Ethics symposium is the second international symposium organized by the Finnish Oral History Network. We aim to stimulate discussion and bring together scholars interested in the ethical and normative issues within oral history research. Symposium will offer a discussion forum for researchers working in the field. Key note speakers are Alistair Thomson (Monash University, Australia) and Arja Kuula (University of Tampere, Finland).

Ethics have been discussed in oral history research since the late 1960s when the first guidelines for professional oral historians were issued. In the beginning ethical issues concerned mainly the conducting, processing, and preserving of oral history materials. Since then the development of documenting and publishing technology and the expansion of oral history research has brought forth not only totally new ethical and normative considerations, but also the continuous need to revise and discuss these more profound questions. Legal and ethical issues characterise the practice of oral history research in all its phases. Whereas legal issues are about conducting oral history according to the law, ethical issues are more subjective and demand taking notice of the particular circumstances within which oral history is practiced.

Thus, ethical perspective open up a wide field of specific concerns. How to predict and secure the informed consent, the protection from risks and harms, the privacy and the human dignity of informants? How to achieve a balance between the objectives of the research project and the perspectives of the interviewees? How to construct and maintain confidentiality? How to promote ethical concerns without hindering future research on sensitive issues?

We welcome all scholars working within the field of oral history and life history. Proposals may be submitted for individual papers or workshop sessions. The program will include keynote lectures, paper sessions and a final panel. The principal conference language will be English.


Abstracts

Participants of workshops are invited to send abstracts to the organizers. Workshop paper submissions will require a title and a maximum 250 word abstract. Please send us a single page proposal including the title of the presentation, the abstract and the following information:

Proposals will be evaluated according to their focus on oral history and research ethics. Proposals must be written in English. Please e-mail your proposal as an e-mail attachment by 15 May 2008 to FOHN(at)finlit.fi and write to the headline of your e-mail FOHN abstract. The acceptance or rejection of proposals will be announced by 16 June 2008. The deadline for the papers is 15 October 2008.

The admission to the symposium is free of charge for participants.

Enquiries: