What is the value of popular history?

Dec 14, 2008 19:43

I'm doing Extension History, and the whole premise of the course is "What is History?"

Basically, we're allowed to chose any topic in history we want. I've chosen to examine the historical accuracy of The da Vinci Code. My question I've come up with is "What is the Value of Popular History ( Read more... )

school, school: extension history

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our_innocence December 13 2008, 16:08:55 UTC
Why do you watch them?

I rarely do (I rarely watch anything), but when I do, it tends to be a mixture of an interest in the time period and the actors themselves.

What entices you to go see them, or to read a book about history?

To read a book about history? I'll read damn near any history book, but to really capture the imagination, it has to go beyond the broad painstrokes of what 'everyone knows' and actually try to explain- like how it became common practise to say that Marie Antoinette declared 'let them eat cake' when it's pretty much impossible.

Why not read history itself?

I do! I do!

Do you learn anything from them?

From films? Through the glamourisation, yes. I usually see the protagnists (and often, the side of culture they embrace) point of view and how they saw history.

Do you accept what you see as true? Why/Why not?

No. I prefer books for facts and movie for entertainment.

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luridlysteph14 December 15 2008, 06:01:25 UTC
See, you're not the general public! Fantastic. I'll admit I watch historical movies for the same reason you do.

Perhaps all the negative sources I'm using and the "proof" of the fallacy is making me cynical. I'll admit I loved Troy, because it had part of what I was interested in.

I'm very interested in your point about seeing the protagonist's point of view. That's on my list of popular history:pro.

Also: that you prefer books for fact. I don't know whether the majority of people agree. Would it be correct to say (without doing a huge poll) that some people are inclined to go see a historical film or read a historical novel in order to enjoy their education? That they do so, not caring it may be historically incorrect?

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luridlysteph14 December 15 2008, 06:04:21 UTC
And by general public, I mean to say you're in one of the four groups that would read the book. I haven't come up with better names other than "general public" "hardcore historians" "general public that likes truth" and "historians that like seeing genpub learn something".

Seriously. It's due in March, so I've got time to edit them :)

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msqu December 13 2008, 21:59:07 UTC
+Why do you watch them ( ... )

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