History And Memory Essay

History and Memory Essay example
History and Memory 'Is there such a thing as "history" which is more objective than memory?'
For many years now there has been a strong debate, as regarding wether or not there is such a thing
as 'history' that is more objective than memory. Due to memories completely subjective nature,
history although also being somewhat subjective, it is a great deal more objective than memory. To
discuss such a statement first one must define the terms 'history', 'objective' and 'memory'. The
Macquarie Dictionary defines the term 'memory' as:" the mental capacity or faculty of retaining and
reviving impressions, or of recalling or recognising previous experiences. A mental impression
retained; a recollection." For the purpose of this...show more content...
David Irving's web site includes a document entitled 'Did Six Million Really Die?' This document
illustrates how histories foundation on evidence constrains it partially to subjectivity. The Sydney
Jewish Museum illustrates how historians know the past to be; not the past as it was in itself but the
past as it appears from its traces in the present. Despite such subjective characteristics, history is more
objective than memory. The fact that ahistorian's view of history can never be completely objective
does not mean that descriptions of the world cannot tell anything objective about it. The Fiftieth
Gate demonstrates how to some extent the nature of archive documents cause them to reasonably
reliable and objective and when the past is well supported by abundant evidence it is reasonable to
say that the history being presented is objective. The Sydney Jewish Museum in addition illustrates
how history unlike memory has a systematic organised structure, which inevitably adds to its'
objective nature. As a result of memories complete subjectivity, history although also being
somewhat subjective; it is a great deal more objective than memory. Memory unlike history is
completely subjective. Memory is composed of personal feelings or prejudice and bias. Memory
privileges the private and the emotional. Against histories officialism and rationalism, memory
reveals the hidden pasts, the lived and the local, the
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Theme Of Memory In George Orwell's '1984'
Maryam Asenuga
Ms. Hoyt
English IB 12
1 September 2015 Along with mass manipulation and deceit, the Government Party utilizes the
seizing of memories to control the masses by enabling them to forget the actual past by replacing it
with the Party's version. The party made sure to destroy all traces of actual evidence of the past to
ensure that the citizens thought as the party did. By taking away memories, the Party is able to
make the citizens believe anything that they emit. Memory runs rampant in 1984 as George Orwell
delineates the effects of the lack of memory experiences by main protagonist, Winston Smith. In
relation, mothers are often seen as care–givers that love and provide for their children; unlike in
reality, mothers are stripped from their children in Oceania. In this world of falsities and crimes, only
...show more content...
By delineating memories, George Orwell declares that memory is what moves a society forward.
Without knowledge of the past, Orwell is saying that the present is doomed to repeat the same
mistakes. The Party's mind control is evident in how Winston accurately remembers things he
could not before. Initially, when talking of his mother's movement, Winston says, "in her slow,
dreamy way, was following a long way behind them" (Orwell 41). However, after his exposure to
freedom from the possessing manner of the government, he declares, "she had possessed a kind of
nobility, a kind of purity, simply because the standards that she obeyed were private ones. Her
feelings were her own, and could not be altered from outside" (Orwell 207). As he distances himself
for the government, his memories become less fuzzy and his character becomes stronger and
stronger. George Orwell discussion of the importance of memory is evident in the way he displays
the effects of distancing oneself from the government does to one's memory, and to one's

Representation of Text History and Memory.
History is the compilation of events and peoples perspective in events, all meshed up into a montage
to create a definitive account of events. The Smithsonian website created by the American
government shows a compelling selection of objects images and personal stories from the events of
September 11 for the public to view at any time on the internet. Loose change is a documentary by
Dylan Avery which has an opposing perspective to that of the terrorists attacking America. Both texts
provide a recount of an event in history. Within history there is scope for challenging the disputable
facts that we have been presented with. The Smithsonian website was designed to show the
American perspective and what the Americans think happened on the...show more content...
This documentary is biased and its authenticity is questioned as to whether the facts presented are
disputable or not. The Smithsonian website's authenticity and legitimacy must be questioned; this is
due to the" tell your story" section of the website. This section allows people to contribute their own
stories of their own memory of the events that occurred on September 11. This causes the truth to be
distorted and the authenticity of the website is challenged due to these disputable facts which are
published on the website. These different stories which are published create many different
perspectives of one past event that has already occurred which is not possible because there can
only be one way in which it happened. Therefore an individuals' memory affects the history and
causes distortion of the truth because an individuals' memory will be biased. The documentary
"Loose Change" is just another perspective of the event which includes individual memory which
means it will also contain bias as Dylan Avery's perspective is presented to us using the documentary
which means the evidence and views shown might not be totally authentic. Memory has affected a
past historical event because of individual self and personal beliefs. This is why the authenticity and
legitimacy of this text is questioned, it presents a good argument against the view of the American
government but

Memory, History, Forgetting Summary
Ricoeur recognizes forgiveness as a final topic in book "Memory, History, Forgetting". However,
forgiveness not only defines his dialectic of the memory and forgetting, but continues ethic of
selfhood installed in the "Oneself as another" too.
In "Oneself as another" Ricoeur asks four questions about the self of "capable man": Who is
speaking? Who is acting? Who is recounting about himself or herself? Who is the moral subject of
imputation? In my opinion, the problem of forgiveness is a mystery of the last issue of the self.
My report will be devoted to the justification that the topic of forgiveness is an additional issue of
the concept of ethical–moral "who" in Ricoeur's philosophy. I try to show that Arendt's concept of
natality helps Ricoeur

In the Martha Rosler's essay of In, Around, and Afterthoughts, she discusses the Bowery, a favorite
place to hang out in New York and wonders why this Bowery seems so attracts to the documentary
photographers. Rosler questioning how to deal with the documentary photography as a photographic
practice and she suggests that we must start with it as a historical phenomenon. She discusses the
historical anecdote on the discovery of flashlight by Jacob Riis, who realizes that this technique
allows him to photograph places of great poverty. Rosler implied that early documentary photography
would concerned with reviving the suffering of the poor and the documentary carries old
information about a group of powerless people to the powerful people, so

Family And Social Memory: Why History Matters
The article Family and Social Memory: Why History Matters mentioned the concept of the nuclear
family. The ideal white–picket fenced family, with a mother, father and children who happily live
together in privacy. It was during the postwar era when technological discoveries were rapid and
mind–blowing, an era where hope was renewed and the ideal family was remodeled. It involved a
father being the head of the house, and the mother being the primary caretaker. It was this notion
that reigned as the ideal family for a long period of time. However, I find this stereotype to be rather
poisonous because, as the article also mentioned, soon the media uncovered the dark realities behind
the nuclear family. During the post–war era, abuse and sexism

German History Essay
Most would agree that it is valuable to acknowledge history, whether it be through documentation,
education, or architectural preservation. However, history can be complex and ugly, stained by war,
genocide, and destruction. Therein lies a philosophical controversy: should these historical "stains"
be acknowledged or buried? What role do these ugly histories have in the development of a society?
Within the last century, no nation has been forced to confront these questions on the same scale that
Germany has (Levinger 118). With a twentieth–century history marked by hatred and the abuse of
power, National Socialism and Soviet communism, Germany's dark history lies only decades in the
past. For this reason, these histories remain freshly...show more content...
In essence, historic preservation roots collective memory in a physical, tangible space. To many
scholars, memory in this context is not simply information that is recalled and retold (qtd. in Till
11). Instead, it is the act of continuously finding and contextualizing history by means of physical
space. Preservation of historical architecture is therefore unique, as it juxtaposes this history and
memory with the surrounding modern world. This highlights the importance of preserving history
through architecture, rather than museums, textbooks, and archives alone. By preserving the
physical remnants of a city's dark history, residents and passersby are forced to confront this history
nondeliberately. Moreover, according to Rudy J. Koshar, a preserved site must maintain some
present value or purpose. This is particularly relevant when considering the preservation of buildings
or sites which represent a history that is controversial or shameful, as it is important to balance the
shame evoked by this space with the benefits of its preservation.
The task of historic preservation is especially challenging in nations such as Germany which have
pasts that many are reluctant to remember. Germany is a particularly interesting case, as it is now
recognized as one of the most progressive, economically powerful, and politically liberal countries in
the world. Yet, no comparably modern country is

History Is Memory
History can be defined in a number of ways. One could say history is a record of events that
occurred in the past, or another person could say that history is the knowledge and facts of the past.
Carl Becker's definition is perhaps the simplest and finest definition of history. Becker defines
history as "the memory of things said and done" (223). Memory is history, which is what history truly
is and how it should be looked at by mankind. As long as mankind has that memory, then that
memory of the things said and done will become history. For mankind to truly be able to define what
history is, they must understand the importance of preservation, interpretations, and periodization
with the things said and done.
If history is memory, and that memory is lost, then history can be lost forever. The Earth itself is
billions of years old and mankind has been around on the planet for only a few thousands of those
years. In her book, Marnie Hughes–Warrington mentions a piece of work from R. G. Collingwood in
which he defines history as "a science whose business is to study events not accessible to our
observation" (35). Mankind has only been around for a small number of blinks of an eye, which
means that there is a significant amount of history that mankind still does not know about, and
possibly may never know. Aphrodite of Melos for example, is a famous and beautiful ancient Greek
freestanding statue from the Hellenistic Period. The arms of the statue are missing and mankind does

In the novel "True History of the Kelly Gang" by Peter Carey and Lord Tennysons poem "Charge of
the Light Brigade" both authors manipulate their textual form to crystallise the perception of an
inextricable link that exists between history and memory. The texts use methodical, documented fact
to anchor the work in historic authenticity whilst Carey uses imaginative speculation to shape
personal representation of events and Tennyson adds a personal perspective, both demonstrating
how a subjective view can give new meanings to the cold facts of history.
The very backbone of Carey's novel, its textual form, begins to shape a seemingly historical account,
credible and authentic. The novel is presented as a chronological, autobiographical...show more
content...
While a daughter deliberately invented by Carey allows Ned to be represented as caring and
considerate 'My dear daughter I will not lie to you' and thus both pairings serve as an explanation to
the facts that the facts alone do not yield and thus textual form continues to explore and shape the
symbiotic nature of history and memory.
Having established his character Carey explores Ned's subjective perspective. News paper articles
in both the exordium and peroration provide differing representations of Ned than the one he himself
offers 'I am the ––––––– monitor, my boys. But he was not the monitor, he was a man of skin and
shattered bone blood squelching in his boot' through which Carey emphasizes the bias of history.
Carey continues to manipulate textual form through perspectives switching to second person
narration as Joe tells the story of Ned's fight with Wild Wright demonstrating that memory is
fallible; incomplete and unreliable. The novels paradigm of history and memory serves to paint the
picture that collectively we can achieve a portrait of the past.
Lord Tennyson also manipulates textual components throughout his poem "Charge of the Light
brigade" in order to weave history and memory together through the telling of a romanticised British
Calvary set on the back drop of historic facts.
The poem's structure of a linear narrative provides a sense of carefully recollected history much
like in 'True History of the Kelly Gang', each stanza acting as its

History Of Memory Advancements
Some of the memory advancements post 2008 are as follows:
1.Solid State Drives: Solid State Drives are storage devices that make use of integrated circuit
assemblies as memory to store data. SSDs have no moving mechanical components. They are
different from hard disk drives because they don't contain spinning disks and movable read/write
heads. 2.3D XPoint: (pronounced three dee cross point) is a non–volatile memory (NVM)
technology which utilizes bit storage based on a change of bulk resistance, in conjunction with a
stackable cross–gridded data access array. This is a new type of non–volatile memory that was
announced in 2015 and is set to hit the market in mid–2017.
3.Thin Film Memory: Thin–film memory is an upgraded high–speed...show more content...
This ultimately slows down operations, it provides a 25% increase in storage capacity.
Next 5 years Moore's Law states that the number of transistors in a dense integrated circuit doubles
approximately every two years. Flash memory has been and will continue to take advantage of
Moore's Law as performance and cost per bit increases in the years to come. Its competitor, the
HDD is still widely used thanks to its cheap cost and high capacity. In the next 5–10 years, it's a
guarantee that both these technologies will continue to improve.
Hard Disks Developments in hard disks can be seen in technologies the likes of SMR (mentioned
above) which Seagate revealed at the end of 2014 with the launch of an 8TB disk. Success of SMR
will give rise to the adoption of another technique known as Two–Dimensional Magnetic Recording
(TMDR) signal processing. Because tracks are so thin/close together, the read head tends to pick up
noise and signals from neighboring tracks whilst retrieving data. To tackle this problem, multiple
heads are used to read portions of multiple tracks simultaneously. The drive then subtracts the
inter–track interference signals.
Another contender for hard disk improvement is the Heat–Assisted Magnetic Recording (HAMR).
HAMR uses laser strapped drive heads. The lasers heat up the track right before the data is
recorded. The heated tracks produce smaller, more precisely magnetized areas with less interference
between

History And Memory Essay
Representation is the coalescence of selected mediums and techniques in an attempt to depict a
veracious reflection of a certain person, object or event. The symbiosis between history and memory
allows for a more cohesive representation of past events, however an inconclusive disposition exists
that cannot be deputised for by either. Mark Baker's post–factum pastiche, The Fiftieth Gate (1997),
and the American Social History Project's patriotic website, The September 11 Digital Archive,
explore the personalisation of history derived from the emotional truth and the legitimisation of
memory attained through statistical data to offer a more comprehensive perspective in the
examination of one's identity. Although the ultimate truth is irretrievable...show more content...
Both Mark Baker and the American Social History Project's decision to foreground personal memory
and emotion follows the poststructuralist ideology of Hayden White, who infers that the knowledge
an individual pursues serves to reconstruct a past that draws vital connections to their identity in the
present. By choosing to fabricate his text through a bricolage structure, Baker accentuates his parents'
subjective recollections to explicate that the Holocaust was not just an event of history, but also a
crucial component of Jewish ancestry and his own ethnicity. The structural division of the "fifty
gates" as an extended metaphor denotes the composers emerging cultural value for the emotional
truth in his rigorous comprehension of the past. An impediment manifested from history alone is
portrayed in the juxtaposition between the sibilance "screaming, the sound of shots, mothers
separated from their children" and the indifferent tone "shot 1381" to illustrate the unsympathetic
nature of circumstantial evidence. The capacity of memory to humanise history is a major element
in attaining a cultivated awareness of the past and one's linked identity.
The value of memory in sculpting one's assimilation of the past is demonstrated by the Smithsonian
website through a deliberate selection and emphasis of personal accounts in the critical analysis of
the September 11 attacks. The layout of

The Importance Of Memory In 1984
Memory. According to the Webster Dictionary, memory is "The power or process of reproducing or
recalling what has been learned and retained especially through associative mechanisms" (Webster
Dictionary) Taking that under consideration, imagine if everyone didn't remember the last time they
smiled, their siblings last birthday, or the last really good meal they had. The lasttime they laughed
so hard their ribs hurt, the last time they had so much fun that they couldn't believe it really even
happened. Or the last time they told someone they loved them, before they probably never saw them
again. Thats memory, now could they imagine if they didn't remember any of that anymore, because
it was taken away. It was such a long time ago and so...show more content...
An example of this is that they talk about how the equation two plus two is five. But everyone
knows that its four, yet they brainwash and persuade aggressively different. "In the end the Party
would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it" (80). This is an
example of how the Party can brainwash people to even thinking that somehow, in their mind even
though they know that two and two is four. They make you believe that against everything you
know, that it equals five. They tell you things, for so long and for so much that you start to believe
it. If someone tells you something for a year, and you haven't heard anything else for that long of a
time. Then you start to believe it because you have nothing else to believe. This keeping the
government in control because they don't have memory of any of that stuff.
The past. The past isn't a thing in 1984. The real past that is. They took the history and real facts
about life behind them and twisted them. They twisted them to make them their own. Their own
history, that they tell their people and make them believe it. They don't tell them about historical
moments that shaped the country they used to know. They tell them things to make them think that
times then were better than times were back then. But deep down they know that time now is not as
great as it could be. But they don't know that and that makes it harder for

The Importance of History Essay
What is history? Should we study history? Who creates history? Is history relevant?
The definition of history, is a question which has sparked international debate for centuries between
the writers, readers, and the makers of history. It is a vital topic which should be relevant in our
lives because it?s important to acknowledge past events that have occurred in our world that deeply
influences the present. This essay will discuss what history is, and why we study it.
History is the study of past events leading up to the present day. It is a research, a narrative, or an
account of past events and developments that are commonly related to a person, an institution, or a
place. It is a branch of knowledge that records and analyzes...show more content...
Focusing on the people involved in a time, place, and series of events makes history. Biographies
and historical fiction may popularize these entities/figures with descriptions of people who lived in
the past or events that happened in the past. Such Historical figures and events include King Leopold
II of Belgium and The Scramble of Africa in the late 19th century. Among other things, King Leopold
II of Belgium (1835–1909), is known for the exploitation of Congo and the mass murder of its
citizens as told in King Leopold?s Ghost by Adam Hochschild. King Leopold II of Belgium, created
and ironically erased history by ultimately slashing the area's population by ten million during his
reign in the Congo, and still managed to shrewdly foster a reputation as a great humanitarian. In
telling this story, Hochschild gave detailed descriptions, especially of the individuals involved,
both good and bad. Set in the palaces and boardrooms of Europe and in the villages of central
Africa, it tells the story of the tragedy that took place during Leopold's so called rule. This ?horror?
story gives and reveals the utter most secrets of the respected King Leopold. Prior to his
colonization, In the mid–1870s, the King hired then world renowned explorer Henry Morton Stanley,
who was familiar with many parts of Africa, to help him go about conquering. During the following
years Stanley stayed throughout in central Africa, talking various tribes into signing over their

Essay on History and Memory
Gate 42 Analysis
Throughout gate 42, Mark Baker combines both assumed history and a plethora of evocative
language techniques to recreate the death of his grandmother, Hinda. From such a technique, one
can infer that when history and memory combine, the interplay allows a heightened understanding
and perceptive insight into events of the past; specifically the Holocaust.
Such a theory becomes evident within the opening of Gate 42, as Baker uses the repetitive symbol
of a Jewish poem to draw the reader within the text, allowing an emotional engagement to the horrors
of the Holocaust. Acting as a metaphor for the human condition, the humbling lover case 'i' gives a
profound insight into the attitudes of the Jews, forced to believe they...show more content...
It is here that the power of representation becomes evident, as by utilizing both History and Memory,
Baker is able to both pay tribute to the dead and give dignity and identity to the victims of the
Holocaust. Such a notion becomes evident throughout the evocative simile "we stand like a forest of
trees" referring to not only the communal strength and courage of the Jews experiencing the
Holocaust, but adding a spiritual undertone to the text. By referring to the symbol of 'trees', one can
infer that Baker is making a link between the Holocaust, and the natural processes of the earth;
specifically of life and death. Such an image resonates with the reader as instead of viewing the
Holocaust through the typical horrific representation of documented fact, this portrayal provides a
platform for a heightened understanding and empathy toward such an event.
However, one must consider that despite the concept of memory adding an emotional impact to
documented evidence, the concept of history cannot be overlooked; as the Jewish words included
in the text such as " Ay li lu' and 'Scheller" add gravitas to the recreation, allowing one to consider
that it is a credible and reliable

The Importance of the Study of History Essay
Most universities require every student, regardless of their major, to take at least two history
courses. Most students take these history courses because they are required to do so. This raises the
question, why study history? What is the importance of history to a common being? History is
something that has happened and is factual. By knowing these facts, its students can learn how to
progress and advance not making the same mistakes. Studying history also provides a sense of
respect and pride from its students towards a society. History can also help its students improve
many skills needed for other fields of life. The study of history is very important to a society.
History is a relevant topic for an individual and a society to...show more content...
Ancient Athenians introduced the ideology of a rule by democracy. Without excessive study of the
democracy of the Athenians and its effectiveness, America would not have been born. In order to
inhibit any uprisings to power, such as that which occurred to the democracy of Romans, the
government of United States introduced the concept of checks and balances between the branches of
government. Without the leisure of learning from the fall of the Roman democracy and making
adjustments to prevent that sort of happening, even the strongest democracy could have fallen.
History is used as a tool of learning from the setting of the prices of market products to the decision
to overthrow Saddam Hussein.
Famous philosopher George Santayana once said, "A country without memory is a country of
madmen" (Szasz). America is a country of tremendous nationalism and tradition. To picture the
respect this nation gives to its predecessors, one just needs to examine the US flag. While the flag
shows fifty stars representing the fifty states, the majority of the flag is occupied by thirteen stripes
giving homage to the original thirteen colonies, upon which the nation is founded. Recognizing the
struggles of the people of the past brings newfound pride and patriotism to the minds of the people.
An old man lying on his deathbed usually tries to remember his life from that of early childhood to
the elderly present. He cherishes all the good times of the past,

History and Memory Essay
MODULE C – History and Memory The Fiftieth Gate by Mark Baker suggests that a combination
of history and memory is essential in making meaning, i.e. in shaping perceptions of the world
around us. How does baker represent this combination to create meaning? History can be viewed as
a sequential series of indisputable events, whereas memory is of such events that are highly
subjective, and affect the way in which they are perceived. The link between history and memory
and the way it shapes the world around us, is a component of past and present. We are shown this
throughout the prescribed text, The Fiftieth Gate, where through bakers quest we see the past
continually impacting on the present, as the memories of the past affect those who...show more
content...
Whatever the reason may be, these lapses in memory posed a problem for Baker as he tries to
immerse himself in his parents history, so that he too can reach an understanding of who he is, "I
knew I has to wrap myself up in the details of her story, if only to immunize myself against the
secret thing that lay there, threatening me beneath her bright clothes and lipstick". Only then
when Baker discovers who he is, and where he came from will he emerge into a "stream of light".
For the duration of Bakers quest for self validation, Baker has to deal with the historian and the
son to bring his parents to "open the gate" and let the memories flood back. As the book develops,
one can see the authors growing obsession with finding validation and truth to those memories, as
his search for proof is fuelled with the desire to uncover who he is. To discover the integrity of his
parent's memories, Baker tries to fill in the shady memory gaps by savagely searching for the
historical documentation to prove the memories, "18th December 1923 at 2pm". His search for
proof grows until his parents words are not enough, the process of verification brings him to shame,
each memory needs a tacit approval

The Memories Of My Life Essay
Time Appreciation
Life is meant to be filled with memories. Every time that I close my eyes and I let my mind be
free, my head starts to be full of different images, people place, events; experiences that have left a
mark in my life. Sometimes those memories are classified as happy , but other times happens that
those memories kill us slowly because they are filled with sadness. Despite making us sad, they
have a great value to us. I do not usually like talking about this part of my memories. People would
start thinking that I am weak, because even if I do not want to, my eyes burst into tears when I
remember those memories.
I will share the two most bitter memories in my life with you. I do not want to show that I am weak,
but those memories have helped me grow up and understand the value of life, love and people who
surround me. Unfortunately, I understood it only when I lost those people.
The first memory takes me back in time six or seven years before, I do not know. It was the
twenty–first of September. I was in seventh grade and too young to know the value of life and love
that you gain from people around you. For almost one year, I and my brother had been living with
my aunt because her husband died and her children were not in Albania anymore. In the last
months, she started to feel sick and every day her health was going south. I remember that at the
end of July I went back to my home because she went to the hospital. It had been the longest August
of my life.
The

The Relationship of Photographs, History, and Memory
Abstract: This essay reflects on the relationship of photographs, history, and memory based on a
found and mutilated photo album. Photographs provide opportunities for disrupting and
restructuring history with their attraction to memory; they privilege the subjective, creative power of
the personal explanation and provide an emotional and even ideological grounding for memory.
Photographs as manifestations of memory assist in the process of understanding the present.
As this century fades into the past it is worth remembering that its course––in contrast to earlier
times––has been chronicled by a visual narrative that relies on the attraction of photographs as means
of storing...show more content...
The violent markings of the photo album and its images, however, produce an equally powerful
message that jars the memory as it disrupts and distorts the photographic chronicle of her life and
that of her family and friends. The result is a complex visual experience that addresses the use of
images in producing knowledge and making history.
Photographs are re–collections of the past. This essay is about photography, memory, and history
and addresses the relationship between photographic images and the need to remember; it is based
on the notion that seeing is a prelude to historical knowledge and that understanding the past relies
on the ability to imagine. At the same time, the role of thought and imagination in the production of
society––as reflected in the earlier work of Louis Althusser (1970), Maurice Godelier (1984) and
perhaps more significantly, Cornelis Castoriadis (1975), suggests yet another role for photography in
the construction of a social and cultural reality. Photographs in capitalist societies contribute to the
production of information and participate in the surveillance of the environment where their
subjective and objective qualities are applied to the private uses of photographic images in the
perpetuation of memory.
Photographs are also manifestations of time and records of experience. Consequently, writings on
photographic theory are filled with references to representations of the past. Roland Barthes (1981,
76), for instance,

What is History? Essay
What is History?
The definition of history, is a question which has sparked international debate for centuries between
the writers, readers, and the makers of history. In the words of acclaimed historian Edward Gibbon,
"History is indeed little more than the register of the crimes, follies and misfortunes of mankind." A
more romantic view on the subject was taken by Cicero. He said, "History is the witness that testifies
the passing of time. It illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance of daily life and
brings us tidings of antiquity" History, described in the simplest of terms, can be seen as a record of
events that have occurred in the past that the historian has taken the trouble to document. It is the
...show more content...
There is of course the argument, that even primary source evidence can be somewhat tainted.
Propaganda by rulers and governments has been used a major tool to promote popularity amongst
their people. For example, in Russia at the turn of the century writers who wrote critically about the
internal affairs of government were censured, persecuted and sometimes imprisoned or executed. In
1537 to 1574, The massive censorship exercised by Cosimo I de' Medici of Florence precipitated a
decline in historiography in Florence. The extreme wealth and power of the Medici family
extended even further into the art of the Renaissance period and their depiction was prevalent as
saintly figures in the works of these artists. Fear of persecution could drive an otherwise
intelligent scholar to be biased and one sided. Even today bias and prejudice is apparent in the
accounting of daily events in newspapers and television. The events revealed to the public are
those which the editor or director chooses to be relevant. The Daily Telegraph for example, is
widely perceived as being supportive of the Tories. In the world of films we never read 'this is a
true story' in the credits but that it is 'based on a true story'. The director, has used artistic licence to
inject either a romantic or

History And Memory Essay

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