For an Oral History in Italy during the Covid 19 Pandemic. Historical Roots and Methodological Issues

Abstract

Oral history emerged as a discipline and still is widely utilized as method to approach and process traumatic events. Because of its ability to share experience and build community, oral history is being widely utilized as a tool to document and respond to the Covid global pandemic, which impacted social rituals and community building moments. Inspired by artists’ use of oral history for socially engaged forms of art and in light of Italy’s tradition of oral history theory, the article identifies important historical precedents and methodological coordinates for an oral history of art as an understudied and underdeveloped area of research in this country.