For some time, I have claimed to be an aspiring historian, and this is riding on the fact that I like history. And there are times when I really feel like this aspiration is morphing into something more long standing and settled. I felt this way when I began to read the two articles and their natural differences, points of contrast and similarities began to present themselves.
On the one hand Mr. Everyman is appealing because a picture in my mind is often more substantial than an explanation and the writing style and literary vehicle used by Carl Becker effortlessly spoke to my imagination. Also, the unconventional observations often uncherished and never put in the spotlight by many traditional historians and or methods but brought out by Edward T Linenthal was like watching an alternate ending to an interesting movie. Carl Becker used Mr. Everyman as a literary vehicle to not only keep his reader’s, or listener’s attention, but to help them remember what he said. Edward T Linenthal reminded his listeners that there was another side of the coin in many historical situations and events that were in the historical shadows of neglect, indelicate rendering and that, collecting dust, so to speak, were pleading for redress in a proper and holistic portrayal.
Carl Becker reduces history to its lowest terms, the memory of things said and done. This appeals to me since it is sort of like cleaning house before a busy week. It feels like a fresh start and is, broadly perhaps, reminiscent of Leopolde Von Ranke’s modus operandi in approaching available information before an academic endeavor with a minimalist or intent. Edward T Linenthal tells us that to be genuinely true to history, we cannot be content with telling only part of the story, but that it must be told using both sides of the coin, or all sides of the dice so to speak. They are similar in that they both have very good points that do not really conflict.
In Mr. Everyman, or everyman his own historian, we are given an example in a lengthy but not tedious word picture of history rendered in an uncluttered and straightforward manner. In Committing History in Public, we are reminded that history, whether we are talking about Custer, or the National Park Service or Pearl Habor (etc.) is not one-sided and that it must be treated, preserved and interpreted in the most holistic (and delicate at times) manner possible.
Is history absolute or relative? As Carl Becker notes, “Let us admit that there are two histories: the actual series of events that once occurred; and the ideal series that we affirm and hold in memory. The first is absolute and unchanged – it was what it was whatever we do or say about it; the second is relative, always changing in response to the increase or refinement of knowledge. - For all practical purposes' history is what it is and for the time being, what we know of it.”
On the one hand, in view of the actual series of events that occurred, how could history be any less than absolute? And on the other hand, with such a profound lack of that view, how could History be anything more than relative? And yet history is so often relative since, while there has been absolute history that occurred, how much or how little of that History is the memory of things said and done inscribed in the pages of books old and new and now the internet? It seems, perhaps like a catch twenty-two or like the overused egg before the chicken question that many people seem happy to forget.
What is history? I tend to agree with both Becker and Linenthal. It is the memory of things said and done and it should be as holistic as possible. As an aspiring future historian, I look forward to using history to throw light on history.
Sources:
-
Linenthal, Edward T. 1994. "Committing History in Public." The Journal of American History 81 (3) (12): 986. https://ezproxy.snhu.edu/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcommitting-history-public%2Fdocview%2F224923538%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D3783.
-
Becker, Carl. “Everyman His Own Historian.” The American Historical Review 37, no. 2 (1932): 221–36. https://doi.org/10.2307/1838208.
-
Kyvig, David E, Nearby History, Exploring the past around you, AltaMirra Press (2000) (https://archive.org/details/nearbyhistoryexp0000kyvi_b4g4/page/18/mode/2up?view=theater
No comments:
Post a Comment