Comments on: History at its best, or not

By: Vickie Karp

Vickie Karp — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:56:40 +0000

I agree. It’s fascinating to see how a fixed event looks decade after decade. It’s the same set of facts, but they seem more or less important over time.

By: normanschreiber

normanschreiber — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:34:11 +0000

It’s a bit like quantum physics. Part of what makes a fact, event, document, detail historically significant is the as yet unknown or unfolding or shifting outcome.

By: Vickie Karp

Vickie Karp — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:24:35 +0000

What a wonderful comment, Caitlin. And a pleasure to meet you here at T/S. I love big fat history books. And I like the stability of depending on “authorities,” but as you say, some are best simply because they write well, and others for facts, and all for different points of view. By reading many, as you say, we get a much bigger and more just sense of history. Because like it or not, history is messy. Watch out when it looks too neat. I’m a big fan of Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, and hope to interview him on his forthcoming gigundo History of the African American People. I find his interlocking of historical documents, personal witnessing, and DNA tracings of heritage an amazing take on what happened.

By: Brian In NYC

Brian In NYC — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:13:04 +0000

Here’s another one for you Vickie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJNVgCHLR-k

By: Caitlin Kelly

Caitlin Kelly — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:28:25 +0000

It’s a really interesting question. Will credentialing matter (most?) — and, if so, who will add their stamp of authenticity to each version of the same story? What makes a historian expert? Their academic training? (Which, for many journo’s of my generation was non-existent beyond a BA. No j-school for many of us.) The cronyism is rampant in both fields, as is much received wisdom. Like those of us who read multiple versions of a news story, I try to read multiple versions of history. I want to see and hear it in through as many different eyes, ears and ideas as possible.

Some historians write so well, though, you can happily stop with one, really well-done version…I’m reading, and loving, a social history of 18th century England, written by British historian Roy Porter. In the explosion of media in that time and place, there are echoes of what’s happening here and now with new media.