What lies behind our need to rigorously document the thoughts deeds images and sounds of
everyday life? And more curiously why would anyone want to spend time going over such
material? At any given point someone is using a pen a camera a web cam or a computer to
document with varying degrees of detail personal thoughts observations or glimpses of
private space and life. And for each of these there is usually at least one person reading
watching and even responding. Saved from Oblivion is a comparative analysis of how individuals
have used various media technologies to document their everyday lives. More specifically this
book focuses on the major forms of self-documentation that have been in use since the late
nineteenth century and covers traditional diaries snapshot photography home movies videos
and web-based media such as web cams and online diaries or journals.
