LFU:online

Students deal with new themes in selected key areas. They understand and evaluate them as well as argument with regards to scientific dynamics and trends of the respective key areas. They understand the strengths and weaknesses of the different methodological approaches. They gain competences in independent formulating of questions and argumentations. 

Oral history is a central source of contemporary history. Contemporary witnesses have enriched research in contemporary history at least since the end of the Second World War, and they have become indispensable in the mediation of contemporary history on television, radio, in exhibitions, and for didactics. Due to the digital transformations of the last decades, however, the handling of contemporary witnesses and their digital "marketing" has changed noticeably. In the context of public history, contemporary testimony has multiplied in mediatized narrative spaces and has found its way into ever more polyphonic memory(s). In this seminar, students will not only trace these changes based on literature, but also record interviews with experts in Austrian and US contemporary history and prepare them for a digital presentation in the form of podcasts. The podcasts are expected toi be published as a 1st season of the “History Exchange” Podcast Series.

The seminar is being taught in collaboration with Marc Landry from the University of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Parts of the common online meetings will be in English.

Reading and analysis of research literature and sources; students’ own investigations; group work and peer assessment; presentations and discussions; lectures;  (online-)exercises, interview activity and post-processing of interview material.

Course with continuous performance assessment: attendance at all sessions,  participation in discussions, active collaboration, exercises, interview, required reading, written paper, oral presentation.