I’m currently conducting a practice-led research project for my PhD at Queensland University of Technology (QUT).
What is the research about?
The project has two purposes. One is to gain an understanding of how individuals narrate their life stories and to explore how an understanding of this can enhance the creation of fictional works. The other is to gather data about the history of Brisbane. The project involves conducting interviews with a number of participants about their past experiences of the area.
The information gathered from these sources will inform a number of pieces of short fiction. The writing will be emotive rather than factual, focusing on the day-to-day, ordinary aspects of the oral histories. I hope to provide a lens into this historical space and culture by creating a rich, textured and vivid narrative. The interviews will be used to give a richness of detail and authencity to the short stories. The creative works will also be accompanied by an exegesis, documenting the theorhetical aspects of the project.
Do you have a Brisbane story to share? Would you like to partcipate?
Your participation in this project is voluntary. If you do agree to participate, you can withdraw from participation at any time during the project without comment or penalty. In the fiction works, names will be changed. I will make clear it is a work of fiction. that processes of embellishment and invention have taken place, and that the story that is presented is not an accurate representation of events as they happened, but an imaginative re-creation.
Your participation will involve an interview. The interview can take as long as you feel necessary, or are able to participate. This will probably be in the region of one to five hours, although interviews may go for longer or shorter times if required. You will own the copyright arising from the interview. If you sign a consent form, you are licensing me to incorporate the transcripts in my research project and/or to use the transcripts to inform a work of fiction. The interview will take place in your home, or an area where you feel relaxed and comfortable.
During the interview process, you will not have to answer a particular question unless you wish to. You may choose not to have the interview recorded. If you choose not to, I will take handwritten notes. If at any point you feel you need to take a break, feel uncomfortable or are unable to continue, please inform me immediately. If you start the process but feel unable to continue, inform me and the interviewing process will stop immediately. There will be no further repercussions if you feel you are unable to continue.
I will provide a transcript or typed notes following the interview. If there is information you don’t wish me to use in my project, you can ask me to remove it.
I am happy to show a draft of what I have written as a result of my research to those interested.
What are the benefits?
This project has many potential benefits. The information gathered would enrich the local history of Brisbane, providing a detailed and vivid account of events, places and people that might otherwise be lost.
The project offers an alternative, perhaps more accessible, way to re-present oral history interviews.
You will also be given a chance to have your stories heard and valued in a non-judgmental, thoughtful and well-researched context.
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