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Introduction to history
20th Century World History
B. Bergey, 2008
Why study history?
What is objectivity?
Objectivity defined
the situation implied by the images is a fair and accurate representation of the events they depict in both content and tone.
e-wikipedia.net/w/en/Photojournalist
A quality in writing characterized by the absence of the author's opinion or feeling about the subject matter. Objectivity is an
important factor in criticism.www.novelguide.com/
The ability to view something without influence of feelings or emotions.
www.brigantine.atlnet.org/
What is objectivity?
Is history objective?
History as account
History as event
vs.
How is history different than other disciplines?
Focus&Methodology
Historical Record
Primary Sources: Actual records and objects that have survived from the past
Secondary Source: Accounts of the past recorded by someone after the event occurred
Examples of primary sources
Written accountsPhotographs/videosSpeechesLaws/official documentsNewspapers/journals from the dayLiterature/booksLetters/journal entriesInterviews, Oral historiesOthers?
What are the advantages of primary sources? Disadvantages
Examples of secondary sources
What are the advantages of secondary sources? Disadvantages?
History books & articles
Documentaries
Web pages
Museum labels and narratives
EnormousThink of all of the records that are being created presently
Historical Record
LimitedThink of what is not captured in historical
records
Primary or Secondary?
Do the following images represent primary or secondary sources?
Keeping Perspective in Mind
What affects perspective?
Observation Experiment
What affects perspective?
It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind),
That each by observation Might satisfy his mind
The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl:
"God bless me! but the Elephant Is very like a wall!"
Six Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe
What affects perspective?
The Second, feeling of the tusk, Cried, "Ho! what have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp? To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!"
The Third approached the animal, And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"
Six Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe
What affects perspective?
The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain," quoth he;
" 'Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"
The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can
This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!"
Six Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe
What affects perspective?
The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"
And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long,Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the right,
And all were in the wrong!
Six Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe
What affects perspective?
Six Blind Men and the Elephant by John Godfrey Saxe
Moral:
So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
What affects perspective?
The changing color card trick
http://pastimperfect.wordpress.com/
Perception is affected by
1. Who the author is, including the values of the author.
2. What the purpose is.3. What information is used to draw conclusions.4. Who the audience is.5. When it is being written.
Historiography
The study of the how historical accounts of the same events change over time.
Consider: Why do history textbooks need to be up-dated every five to seven years?
