ABSTRACT
Oral history, a method of research that 'records the speech of people and 'then analyses their memories of the past', has its roots in understanding the social and cultural experiences of individuals in times of political strife. Not only can oral history provide a more complete picture of the past by documenting the lives of people from different walks of life, it simultaneously records the emotions invested in pivotal moments, both individual and collective. It is in the association to the realm of feeling and psyche, as well as the self-reflection stimulated by the interviews, that we find a connection to depth psychology: it provides a framework within which we may comprehend the nature of these feelings and emotions. This chapter explores how the use of this technique captures the complex ways in which individuals construct their identity, particularly members of the Chinese and Vietnamese diaspora in London, who have experienced both political and cultural upheaval.
