THE ORAL HISTORY ARCHIVE OF CIESZYN SILESIA -AN OPEN SOCIAL PROJECT

摘要

This text concerns work connected with the organization of the Oral History Archive of Cieszyn Silesia [Archiwum Historii Mówionej Śląska Cieszyńskiego], an initiative combining academic research interests with the activism of the non--governmental sector. The archivization projects showcase the culture of Cieszyn Silesia on both sides of the national border dividing the region; they highlight the cultural pluralism of the past and the multi-faith nature of contemporary times. They also value women's voices. The methodology of the projects consists in filming narrative interviews addressing important issues agreed upon by the research collective. Two films of oral history were produced on the basis of the material acquired. The entire enterprise is part of the movement of establishing social archives to protect cultural heritage by retrieving and preserving social memory, activating local communities, and conducting educational activities about the collected materials.