Topic2 Diving into Historiography Event Vs Narrative

Summary

In this lecture, Dr. Vicki Kis delves into the dual nature of history as both factual events and narrative storytelling, highlighting the complexities of historiography. She emphasizes the importance of understanding historical events from multiple perspectives to avoid bias and the significance of causation in creating coherent historical explanations. The discussion on global and Filipino experiences, including Martial Law and World War II, illustrates the need to balance determinism and chance for a comprehensive historical understanding.

Takeaways

• 📚 History can be approached as both an event and a narrative, with the former focusing on factual occurrences and the latter on storytelling.
• 🌏 The global Asian and Filipino experiences are used to illustrate the complexity of history and the importance of considering multiple perspectives.
• 📝 The recording of factual events in history is essential but can be criticized for potentially leading to a biased understanding if done without context.
• 🎭 Narrative storytelling in history helps to appreciate the deeper understanding and context that can be lost in a purely factual recounting.
• 🤔 Selection bias is a significant challenge in documenting history as events, where historians may choose facts that align with their own inclinations.
• ⏳ Time is needed to properly understand contemporary events before they can be accurately recorded as history, as interpretations can evolve with new data.
• 🔍 Causation is a crucial concept in historiography, helping to create a coherent explanation of the past by identifying and analyzing the causes of events.
• 🌐 Determinism and chance both play critical roles in shaping history, with determinism highlighting the influence of preceding causes and chance introducing unpredictability.
• 🏛 The Treaty of Versailles, the rise of fascism, and the Great Depression are recognized as causes of World War II, showing the interconnectedness of events.
• 🇵🇭 In the Philippines, understanding events like martial law has been shaped by time and varying perspectives, emphasizing the evolving nature of historical interpretation.
• 🌳 A full understanding of history requires considering both determinism and chance, as well as combining factual events with narrative storytelling for a richer perspective.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the lecture given by Dr. Vicki Kis?

The lecture focuses on exploring the perspectives of history as both an event and a narrative, with a specific emphasis on the global Asian and Filipino experiences.

What are the two fundamental ways to approach history mentioned in the script?

The two fundamental ways to approach history are the recording of factual events and the crafting of narrative storytelling.

How does the perception of the Treaty of Versailles by different nations exemplify the narrative aspect of history?

The perception of the Treaty of Versailles by different nations exemplifies the narrative aspect of history because it shows how varying interpretations of a single event can lead to different narratives.

What criticisms does the script raise about learning history solely from a nationalistic perspective?

The script criticizes the nationalistic perspective for potentially omitting crucial opposing viewpoints, which can lead to a biased understanding of history.

What is the challenge of selection bias when historians document history as events?

Selection bias challenges historians to avoid choosing facts that align with their own inclinations, such as emphasizing only the positive aspects of a country's history.

Why is it important for historians to consider both determinism and chance when analyzing history?

Considering both determinism and chance is important because it allows historians to account for both the predictable influences of preceding causes and the impact of unpredictable factors on historical events.

How does the script describe the process of understanding causation in history?

The script describes understanding causation in history as a process where historians assign causes to events to create a coherent explanation of the past, often starting by identifying multiple causes before determining the ultimate cause.

What is an example of a historical event that has required time to be properly understood before being recorded as history?

The interpretation of the 2008 financial crisis is an example of an event that has evolved as new data became available, requiring time to be properly understood.

How has the understanding of historical events like Martial Law in the Philippines been shaped over time?

The understanding of historical events like Martial Law in the Philippines has been shaped by time and varying perspectives, reflecting the evolving nature of historical interpretation.

What does the script suggest as a method to gain a fuller picture of historical events?

The script suggests that a fuller picture of historical events can be gained by integrating both factual events and narrative storytelling, such as analyzing personal stories alongside a record of events.

What does the script imply about the enriching nature of studying history?

The script implies that studying history is most enriching when both perspectives—factual events and narrative storytelling—are combined, allowing for a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in our past.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Perspectives on History: Event vs. Narrative

Dr. Vicki Kis, a professor in historiography, introduces the concept of history from two fundamental perspectives: as a factual event and as a narrative. The lecture will explore the global Asian context, with a focus on Filipino experiences, to understand how the recording of factual events and the crafting of narrative storytelling can shape our understanding of history. The Treaty of Versailles serves as an example to illustrate how different nations' perceptions form narratives. The lecture also addresses the criticisms of a purely factual approach to history, which can lead to a biased understanding if done solely from a nationalistic perspective.

🔍 The Challenges of Documenting History

This section delves into the challenges of documenting history as events, highlighting the issue of selection bias where historians may choose facts that align with their own inclinations. It discusses the importance of time in understanding contemporary events, using the 2008 financial crisis as an example of how interpretations evolve with new data. The concept of causation in history is introduced, emphasizing the role of historians in assigning causes to create coherent explanations of the past, such as the Philippine Revolution against Spain and the causes of World War II.

🌐 Global Impact and Historical Causation

The script examines the global impact of historical events, such as the Treaty of Versailles, the rise of fascism, and the Great Depression, as causes of World War II. It explains how historians identify multiple causes for an event before determining the ultimate cause, using the execution of Gorza in the Philippine Revolution and the assassination of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand in World War I as examples. The importance of understanding both determinism and chance in historiography is also discussed, with Spanish colonization's influence on Filipino culture and the unpredictable impact of Typhoon Haiyan as examples.

🎭 Integrating Factual Events and Narrative Storytelling

Concluding the lecture, Dr. Kis emphasizes the importance of combining factual events and narrative storytelling for a richer understanding of history. The analysis of Martial Law in the Philippines is used to illustrate the need for both a record of events and an exploration of personal stories that bring these events to life. The integration of these approaches is advocated for a fuller picture of historical events, from global conflicts to local revolutions, and the lecture ends with a hope that the discussion has deepened the audience's appreciation of the complexities involved in understanding our past.

Keywords

💡Historiography

Historiography refers to the study of the writing of history and how it is interpreted by historians. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the different ways history can be approached and understood. The script mentions historiography when exploring the dual perspective of history as an event and as a narrative, emphasizing the importance of both factual events and narrative storytelling in understanding the past.

💡Factual Events

Factual events are the actual occurrences or incidents that can be documented and verified. In the context of the video, factual events are the building blocks of history, such as the chronological listing of World War II events. The script critiques the sole reliance on factual events for a potential lack of deeper understanding and context, highlighting the need to balance them with narrative aspects.

💡Narrative Storytelling

Narrative storytelling is the art of constructing a story or account of events. The video emphasizes the importance of narrative storytelling in history to provide context and a deeper understanding. It contrasts this with the recording of factual events, using the example of the Treaty of Versailles to illustrate how different nations' narratives can shape the perception of historical events.

💡Bias

Bias refers to a preference or inclination, often unconscious, towards a particular perspective or viewpoint. The script discusses how bias can affect the selection of facts when documenting history, leading to a potentially skewed understanding. For instance, history taught from a nationalistic perspective may omit opposing viewpoints, resulting in a biased narrative.

💡Causation

Causation is the relationship between an event and its causes. In the video, causation is crucial for historians to create a coherent explanation of the past. The script uses the Philippine Revolution against Spain and World War II as examples to illustrate how understanding the causes of events helps to connect the dots between them.

💡Determinism

Determinism is the philosophical concept that all events are determined completely by previously existing causes. The video mentions determinism when discussing how historical events are shaped by preceding causes, such as Spanish colonization influencing Filipino culture. It is contrasted with the role of chance in history.

💡Chance

Chance refers to the possibility of events happening without a predictable pattern. The script highlights the role of chance in history, using the unpredictable impact of Typhoon Hyan on the Philippines as an example. It is presented as a counterpoint to determinism, emphasizing the complexity of historical causation.

💡Nationalistic Perspective

A nationalistic perspective is a viewpoint that emphasizes the importance of one's nation or national identity. The video critiques the teaching of history solely from a nationalistic perspective, as it can lead to the omission of crucial opposing viewpoints and a biased understanding of historical events.

💡Martial Law

Martial law refers to the imposition of military control over civilian functions of government, often in response to a crisis. The script uses the historical events of martial law in the Philippines as an example of how understanding can be shaped by time and varying perspectives. It also illustrates the need to integrate factual events with personal stories for a fuller picture.

💡Global Conflicts

Global conflicts are large-scale wars or disputes that involve multiple countries or regions. The video mentions global conflicts, such as World War II, to emphasize the importance of understanding both the factual events and the narratives that shape our comprehension of these significant historical occurrences.

💡Local Revolutions

Local revolutions refer to uprisings or significant changes that occur within a specific region or country. The script contrasts global conflicts with local revolutions, such as the Philippine Revolution, to highlight the importance of understanding history from both a macro and micro perspective.

Highlights

Introduction to historiography and its focus on global Asian and Filipino experiences.

Exploration of history as both an event and a narrative.

Understanding the recording of factual events versus the crafting of narrative storytelling.

The dual perspective of history and its appreciation of complexity.

Criticisms of history taught solely from a nationalistic perspective leading to bias.

Challenges of selection bias when documenting history as events.

The importance of time in understanding and interpreting contemporary events.

The evolution of interpretation of events like the 2008 financial crisis.

Causation as a crucial concept in understanding history.

Assigning causes to events to create a coherent explanation of the past.

The layered understanding of history involving determinism and chance.

The impact of unpredictable factors like Typhoon Hyan on history.

The study of history enriched by combining factual events and narrative storytelling.

Analyzing the history of Martial Law in the Philippines as an example.

The need for a record of events and exploration of personal stories in historiography.

Gaining a fuller picture of historical events by integrating different approaches.

Conclusion emphasizing the complexities involved in understanding our past.

Transcripts

hello I'm Dr Vicki kis a professor

specializing in historiography today we

will explore the intricate perspectives

of history as an event versus history as

a narrative with a focus on global Asian

and specifically Filipino experiences

we'll start by understanding two

fundamental ways to approach history the

recording of factual events and the

crafting of narrative storytelling

consider the signing of the Treaty of

a factual event and how different

nations perceived its implications which

forms the narrative aspect this dual

perspective helps us appreciate the

complexity of history history as an

event focuses on the meticulous

recording of factual occurrences for

example the chronological listing of

World War II events however this method

isn't without its criticisms often wrote

learning of dates and facts can strip

away the deeper understanding and

context for instance history taught

solely from a nationalistic perspective

can omit crucial opposing viewpoints

leading to a biased understanding when

documenting history as events selection

bias becomes a significant challenge

historians may choose facts that align

with their own inclinations such as

emphasizing only the positive aspects of

a country's history additionally

contemporary events require time to be

properly understood before being

recorded as history the interpretation

of the 2008 financial crisis for example

has evolved as new data became available

in the Philippines understanding

historical events like martial law has

been shaped by time and varying

perspectives causation is a crucial

Concept in understanding history

historians assign causes to events to

create a coherent explanation of the

past

take the causes of the Philippine

Revolution against Spain taxation Force

labor and lack of representation all

played roles globally the Treaty of

Versailles the rise of fascism and the

Great Depression are recognized as

causes of World War II understanding

these causes allows us to connect the

dots between events historians often

start by identifying multiple causes for

an event before determining the ultimate

cause for example the execution of gorza

is seen as a catalyst for the Philippine

Revolution similarly the assassination

of arch Duke France Ferdinand is often

viewed as the immediate cause of World

War I though long-term factors like

nationalism and militarism played

crucial roles this layered understanding

is vital in historiography in analyzing

history determinism and chance both play

critical roles determinism suggests that

that events are shaped by preceding

causes like how Spanish colonization

influenced Filipino culture however

chance also has a role unpredictable

factors like typhoon hyan have

significantly impacted the Philippines a

full understanding of History requires

considering both these elements to

conclude the study of history is most

enriching when we combine both

perspectives factual events and

narrative storytelling for example

analyzing the history of Martial law in

the Philippines requires not just a

record of events but also an exploration

of the personal stories that bring these

events to Life by integrating these

approaches we gain a fuller picture of

historical events from Global conflicts

to local revolutions thank you for

joining me in this exploration of

history as both an event and a narrative

I hope this discussion has given you a

deeper appre appreciation of the

complexities involved in understanding

our past