Memorytelling

Memorytelling is the practice of recounting memories aloud for personal reflection, historical documentation, or communal meaning. It encompasses autobiographical narratives, oral histories, and group reminiscence, with emphasis on memory as a resource rather than a fictional or scripted performance. It can occur in informal gatherings, classrooms, museums, or therapeutic settings and may be facilitated by a moderator or structured activity.

Practice and methods: In memorytelling sessions, participants respond to prompts about people, places, events, or emotions. Facilitators may use memory timelines, artifact-based prompts, or narrative circles to encourage elaboration and dialogue. The process often yields a sequence of overlapping memories that create a collective account and can contribute to archival material or educational programs.

Context and applications: Memorytelling appears in community history projects, oral history initiatives, and reminiscence programs in elder care. It supports intergenerational dialogue, enables marginalized voices to be heard, and can supplement traditional archives with experiential detail. Digital platforms now host memorytelling projects that curate and share narratives widely.

Critiques and considerations: Memory is reconstructive and can be selective or altered by later information. Ethical considerations include informed consent, fair representation, and safeguards for participants sharing traumatic memories. Good practice emphasizes sensitivity, respect, and accuracy while acknowledging memory’s fluid nature.

Related concepts: It overlaps with oral history, reminiscence therapy, memory studies, and storytelling traditions, and often intersects with archival practices and museum education.