Documentary sources in the sociology of daily life

Abstract

In this article one deals with some documentary sources more used in sociology of daily life namely: literary, oral and audio-visual sources. Concerning the literary sources one recognizes that they are able to objectify the reality through multiple (re)constructions of the scene. Even the transfiguration of reality made by such sources and the artifices deriving from such an action are an attempt of answer to what may be the least soluble of the interpretation problems placed to Social Sciences: what meaning and, therefore, what form is to be given to the elapsing of social and historical time? As to the oral sources the author considers that they are a useful instruments to verify any previously announced and documented hypotheses, as well as the confirmation of the analytical pictures initially built from written sources. On the other side one admits that the resort to oral sources makes possible the construction of an interpretative story from a raw material (impressions, opinions, feelings, beliefs) that one seldom can draw from the used traditional sources. Such a resort allows a larger approach either as to those features of daily life more connected with the little events of home life, to the intimate way of life, etc., or to the reality of those social groups that are kept at the edge of the power spheres (elites, political leaders, pressure groups, associations, etc.) regarding which the resort to written documents is possible. In conclusion, and concerning the audio-visual sources, one reflects on their role not only as information sources but mainly as sources for the structure-formation of daily life.