Kokemushistoriaa

Kokemushistoriaa, meaning "history of experience" in Finnish, refers to the academic study of lived experiences and how they are perceived, interpreted, and recorded throughout history. It is a subfield that draws heavily from social history, cultural history, and the history of emotions. Rather than focusing on grand political or economic narratives, kokemushistoriaa delves into the personal accounts of individuals and groups, seeking to understand their subjective realities.

This field examines various forms of evidence to reconstruct past experiences, including diaries, letters, autobiographies, oral histories, and even material culture. The challenges lie in interpreting these sources, recognizing that personal accounts are often shaped by social norms, cultural expectations, and individual biases. Kokemushistoriaa aims to move beyond simply describing events to understanding how those events were felt and understood by the people who lived through them.

Key areas of inquiry within kokemushistoriaa can include the history of childhood, the experience of work, the impact of war on civilians, or the lived realities of social movements. By focusing on the subjective dimension of history, it offers a more nuanced and humanistic understanding of the past, complementing traditional historical approaches. It seeks to give voice to those who might otherwise be silenced in historical accounts and to explore the diversity of human experience across different times and places.