Mo Burmakinoa journal about culture in small villages

An independent journal about culture in small villages. It is not the website of a local government body, administration or cultural institution and is not connected with the former website on this domain; we publish no official information or announcements.

Analysis

Analysis

Analysis is an attempt to understand how familiar things work. Here you will find steps for recording the memories of older residents carefully and respectfully, and a table of the forms of cultural life most often found in a small village.

A recorded story outlives its teller, so it should be recorded in a way the person would never feel embarrassed by.

— From the editors

How to record the memories of older residents

  1. Prepare your questions

    Start with simple topics: childhood, school, work, festivals, songs. Open questions such as "What was it like?" or "What do you remember?" work better than questions with a yes-or-no answer.

  2. Get consent

    Explain why you are recording and where the recording will be kept. Ask separately whether you may record and whether you may later publish extracts, and respect whatever answer you get.

  3. Record the conversation

    Choose a quiet place, check your recorder or phone and do not interrupt. If the person gets tired, it is better to arrange a second meeting than to rush the story.

  4. Transcribe the recording

    Write the story down as close to what was said as possible, keeping the speaker's way of talking. Mark any unclear passages rather than guessing at them.

  5. Caption and date it

    Note when and where the recording was made, who asked the questions and what was discussed. Give the storyteller's name only with their consent.

  6. Keep copies

    Store the recording and transcript in at least two places. If the storyteller agrees, a copy can be given to a school museum or a library.

Forms of village cultural life

FormHow it worksWhat matters to participants
ChoirA singing group with a leader and regular rehearsals; it sings folk and contemporary songs.Enthusiasm and regular attendance matter more than experience; the repertoire is often learned by ear.
Theatre circleAn amateur troupe that puts on sketches and plays for fellow villagers, often for festivals.Don't be afraid of small parts; costumes and sets are usually homemade.
Craft workshopA craftsperson demonstrates techniques of woodcarving, embroidery, basketry or weaving, and the learners follow along.Patience and care; it is best to discuss materials and tools in advance.
Hobby clubGatherings of people with a shared interest: reading, local history, board games, needlework.Agreement on time and place; it helps when everyone contributes something to the common effort.
  • People

    Who makes village culture happen: the cultural organiser, circle leader, librarian, local historian, craftsperson and storyteller.

  • History

    A timeline from the reading huts of the 1920s to the laws on culture and folk crafts and the 2003 UNESCO Convention.

  • Collections

    Three reading collections: how to start a circle, how to build a family archive and how to put on a celebration.

Sources

  • Oral history methodology guides
  • UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003)

Historical and legal information is based on open encyclopaedic sources and the texts of laws. Official information, schedules and announcements are published only by public authorities and institutions, so please check them there.