Back in my college days I took a Folklore class. I’m sorry if that isn’t the exact name of the course. It’s been a long time since I took it and I didn’t save a class schedule so that I might verify my memory. One of the things that I learned in what would ultimately be one of my all time favorite lectures is that oral history and memoirs are often thought to be part of the folklore genre. The reason for this is obvious. Such sources of information are based solely on the often inaccurate memories of individuals. The writers generally do no research to compile what they believe happened to them. Instead they simply outline their histories with their world views continuously affecting what they pick and choose to tell and what stood out most. Such historical artifacts should never be viewed in the same way as a scholarly study of an era or an individual. Instead they give insight into the thinking and personality of the person telling the story. They are valuable in that they reveal a highly personal point of view of a particular event, time, or era. Continue reading “Personal Memories”
All It Takes Is A Little Love 