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Lecture – Molly Andrews

Political narratives: Stories and social change

The Dutch Oral History Society of the Huizinga Institute is pleased to invite you to attend on September 30 a lecture by professor Molly Andrews of the Center for Narrative Research of the University of East London. It is titled ‘Political narratives: Stories and social change’. 

Date: September 30, 2011
Time: 14:30-17:00 uur, followed by drinks
Co-referent: prof. dr. Halleh Gorashi (VU, to be confirmed)
Venue: Potgieterzaal, University Library (UB), Singel 425, Amsterdam

Programme
The meeting starts at 14.30, the first 45 minutes will deal with further planning of the lectures and other initiatives. 
15.15-15.30 break 
15.30- 16.15 Molly Andrews 
16.15- 16.30 comment 
16.30- 17.00 questions and discussion 
The event will be followed by drinks and a reception. 

Molly Andrews 
Molly Andrews is Professor of Sociology and Co-director of the Centre for Narrative Research. She is interested in the intersection of individual biography and society. For the past twenty years, she has been listening to, and writing about, the stories which people tell about their lives, specifically focussing on their perception of the political world and their role within it. Her research explores the implicit political worldviews which individuals impart through the stories they tell about their lives, as well as the wider social and political context which makes some stories more ‘tell-able’ than others. She has conducted research projects in Britain (life histories with lifetime socialists), the United States (analyzing anti-war activism as an expression of patriotism), East Germany (accounting for national identity in the context of the demise of one’s country) and South Africa (examining testimonies before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

Monographs by Molly Andrews  

  • (2010) “Beyond narrative: The shape of traumatic testimony” in Hyvärinen, M., Hydén, L.C. , M. Saarenheimo, and Tamboukou, M. (eds.) Beyond narrative coherence Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • (2009) “The narrative complexity of successful aging” International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy Special issue on Theorising Aging Studies Vol. 29/1-2: 73-83.
  • (2009) “Against good advice: Reflections on conducting research in a country where you don’t speak the language” (reprinted from 1995 publication in The Oral History Review) in Harrison, B., ed. Life story research Volumes 1-4 London: Sage.
  • (2008) “Never the last word: Narrative research and secondary analysis” in Squire, C., M. Tamboukou, and M. Andrews, eds. Doing narrative research London: Sage.
  • (2007) Shaping history: Narratives of political change Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2008 Outstanding book of the year award, American Education Research Association, Narrative and Research Special Interest Group.
  • (1991/ re-issued 2008) Lifetimes of commitment: Aging, politics, psychology Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.