Sloan Stephen
Oral Hist Rev. 2008;35(2):176-86. doi: 10.1093/ohr/ohn027.
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, many oral historians throughout the nation began to consider the role their methodology could serve in documenting the storm and its aftermath. Interviewing so soon after such a traumatic event creates new considerations for oral history as an approach to recording experience. The problems and possibilities of oral history as such a moment initiated a vibrant discussion on H-Oralhist and at professional meetings in the fall of 2005. This article reflects on many of the topics raised in that dialogue, including issues of historical distance, objectivity, reflection, and emotional trauma. The piece also offers an early review of the work of the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi to document the impact of Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi.
在2005年8月卡特里娜飓风刚结束后，全国各地的许多口述历史学家开始思考他们的方法在记录这场风暴及其后果方面能发挥怎样的作用。在如此创伤性事件后这么快就进行访谈，对口述历史这种记录经历的方法提出了新的考量。在这样一个时刻，口述历史的问题与可能性在H-Oralhist网站以及2005年秋季的专业会议上引发了热烈讨论。本文思考了那次对话中提出的诸多话题，包括历史距离、客观性、反思以及情感创伤等问题。文章还对南密西西比大学口述历史与文化遗产中心记录卡特里娜飓风对密西西比州影响的工作进行了早期回顾。
