A brief description about the politics of history and where you may fit into the grand narrative of history Lets discuss history A form of story telling created by humans Reflects cultural social economic conditions ID: 445726
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Who writes history?" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Who writes history?
A brief description about the politics of history, and where you may fit into the grand narrative of historySlide2
Let’s discuss history…
A form of story telling created by humans
Reflects cultural, social, economic conditions
A complex story that can illuminate or obscure, even obliterate events
Everyday decisions are made in the vortex of competing demands
Life is a dynamic, conflict ridden, happy series of events
Power is a force that can be wielded for a wide range of purposesSlide3
Let’s discuss power …
Enact or rescind laws of the land
Protect (or harm) classes of living beings
Issue (or deny) authority
Compel people into action
Confer legitimacy
Make decisions that effect people’s daily livesSlide4
How might we define leadership?
Communicate ideas
Articulate a vision
Organize individuals and groups
Identify problems and offer strategies
Understand the complex qualities that comprise the human condition
and
Utilize that understanding to bring people togetherSlide5
Knowledge is a form of power
Acquisition of letters
Ability to question
Opportunity to frameCapacity for debate / argumentationComfort in one’s information base
Desire to advance human well-being
Passion for learning
Provide a foundation for future inquiry
Contribute to the legacy of democratic intellectual actionSlide6
The importance of POV …
Understanding a writer’s / researcher’s / teacher’s Point of View is critical to ascertaining its veracity / accuracy / relevance
Identifying the circumstances that inform a historian’s POV enables readers to understand how particular emphases have evolved in the history being told
Looking at our POV as readers permits us to understand the values / interests / importance that we place on certain stories and subjectsSlide7
Consider these ideas …
Historians have a social responsibility
Create works that are useful in solving contemporary social issues
Provide a framework for understanding linkages to the past
Illuminate positive and negative outcomes of the past
Offer alternative and/or new approaches to understanding current conditions
Historical evidence is the basis for informed decision makingSlide8
Ponder this …
Why is history telling useful?
Can or should historians be “objective”?
Is it possible for us to create history that speaks to a wide range of events, processes, and subjects?