Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Normal
I have a course coming up in college (either this fall or next spring) in early Western history. Of course it's just a survey class, but our school's history teacher (there's only one - the downside of art school) likes to drop hints about which texts he prefers. That should help fill in the gaps that I have on early western civs - and there are a lot of gaps.I too am an amateur historian. I considered studying it in college (and in fact would have if I'd wound up at a different school) but decided on creative writing instead. I'm still very actively interested in history and I love to read everything I can get my hands on (within reason - two jobs and a disabled mother make my life busy).As for revisionism...I'm not a fan of revisionist history. I like to read alternate history. The only real difference is that alternate history presents hypothetical situations as hypothetical situations, whereas revisionists tend to present hypothetical situations as "the truth." I've always been fascinated with hypotheticals...but not so much on an intellectual level as on an entertainment level. Exploring how things may have happened, according to people with more degrees than I have fingers, can be quite as exciting (or disturbing) as a good science fiction or fantasy book. While I do think that there can be some intellectual value to alternate history (ironically Orwell's 1984 and Clancy's Red Storm Rising are both considered quasi-alternate history today) I wouldn't put too much faith in the various scenarios as "what would have happened." They always are "what might have happened." Another small but important difference.I am ready to discuss history with you. I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from you. There'll probably be friction too, but this a debate forum, after all.I'm rather fond of Winston Churchill and I thought I'd throw a little something he said once at the end here: "Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught."
I have a course coming up in college (either this fall or next spring) in early Western history. Of course it's just a survey class, but our school's history teacher (there's only one - the downside of art school) likes to drop hints about which texts he prefers. That should help fill in the gaps that I have on early western civs - and there are a lot of gaps.
I too am an amateur historian. I considered studying it in college (and in fact would have if I'd wound up at a different school) but decided on creative writing instead. I'm still very actively interested in history and I love to read everything I can get my hands on (within reason - two jobs and a disabled mother make my life busy).
As for revisionism...I'm not a fan of revisionist history. I like to read alternate history. The only real difference is that alternate history presents hypothetical situations as hypothetical situations, whereas revisionists tend to present hypothetical situations as "the truth." I've always been fascinated with hypotheticals...but not so much on an intellectual level as on an entertainment level. Exploring how things may have happened, according to people with more degrees than I have fingers, can be quite as exciting (or disturbing) as a good science fiction or fantasy book. While I do think that there can be some intellectual value to alternate history (ironically Orwell's 1984 and Clancy's Red Storm Rising are both considered quasi-alternate history today) I wouldn't put too much faith in the various scenarios as "what would have happened." They always are "what might have happened." Another small but important difference.
I am ready to discuss history with you. I'm sure there's a lot I can learn from you. There'll probably be friction too, but this a debate forum, after all.
I'm rather fond of Winston Churchill and I thought I'd throw a little something he said once at the end here: "Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught."
