We Are History - A People's History of Lebanon

We are History: A People's History of Lebanon is a digital interface that collects the varied oral histories of a people and presents them in a disruptive but dialogical manner. Using contemporary oral histories about the 1981 siege of Zahle, Lebanon, the software is given the goal of generating a narrative from the transcripts of said oral histories.

The history of Lebanon during the postcolonial period of 1943 to the present is not covered in its history textbooks because it is contested. This project’s task is to interweave contrasting versions of history, allowing the Lebanese to listen to each others’ memory of history- something that is non-existent. With that goal, the software draws from first person testimonies to generate a story that reflects all the perspectives available in these interviews, and tries to collide and intertwine the different versions of history. The sequence of the videos is then displayed according to the generated story.

Users who have participated in these historical events are, in turn, encouraged to contribute their own memories and perspectives to create a dynamic archive. This interface will be available online and in public spaces throughout Lebanon, housed in kiosks, to create a physical space, where for the first time, there is value given to history away from partisan pressure and where there is freedom of expression with no political bias.

Here are a few screenshots of the interface:

Here is a video of the installation at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz: