great leap forward

[terebi_me]

I hope that at some point in my life of the future I can make an intensive study of 20th Century Chinese history. There's some seriously bizarre and fucked-up shit going on there... and at this point, I know next to nothing about it

Comments

[the_automatik]

There are a lot of historical periods I know nothing about. I know a lot of what I know from Film classes. And then I have all this ridiculous knowledge of 80s pop and New Wave, Redd Kross, Pulp, and other things that don't pay the rent.

James M. Cain did a lot of research when writing his novels - I always thought that was neat.

[bapgacktgrrl]

I suggest the Don't Know Much About..... as a starter. You get good info, not too boring and stuff you wouldn't learn in some dry old book anyways. That way you can sound even smarter than you are. :)

taking Tiger Mountain by strategy

[terebi_me]

I am like V-Ger - I need the information!

And I actually really like the dry ol' books... I now am able to read them and get the information I need, and I can always easily find the good historians - the ones whose writing style is engaging enough that I can actually learn about something. That's why I love Tacitus - he brought the sleaze of the fall of the Roman Empire home to my ass - but apparently I should give Thucydides another roll, because I found him dry as toast the first run through. Then again, I also didn't use to like Radiohead, so....

Finding good historians about China/Japan/Korea and colonial Africa ought to be really fun.

Re: taking Tiger Mountain by strategy

[bapgacktgrrl]

I guess I need to go back to the old books. I actually read a copy of History of the World that my parents had around the house (great being the daughter of former teachers). I forget who it was by, but it was a deep book.

I am sure there are a lot of good histories on China, Japan and Korea. I'll look around and see if there's any good ones around when I do my research next week.

[queeberquabbler]

I'm excellent at history! Use me! But be gentle >:-D

[terebi_me]

Whips, but no chains. Got it. :)

[merlot_goddess]

It's only too late when they nail down the lid of your box! :o)