Opening people's eyes to the study of history (creating an atmosphere for free discussion).
Sunday, September 30, 2012
This Week in History- September 30th- October 6th
Relaunching the Bluenose II
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The Bluenose I |
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The relaunch of restoration of Bluenose II in September 29, 2012. |
The Bluenose II an iconic symbol of Canada is undergoing a renewal- starting with being relaunched into the water yesterday, September 29th, 2012 to the applause of thousands of onlookers. The relaunch occurred in Lunenburg Nova Scotia at the same spot where the original Bluenose was launched more than 90 years ago. The connection to the past and history while the finding anew in a classic symbol is a really neat historical moment. There is a sense of pride that surrounds the Bluenose.
This revival of an icon did not come cheaply- 2 years of extensive restoration and $15.9 million. Much of the deck and hull made out of Douglas Fir has been replaced. There is still work that needs to be completed including two masts, sails, and rigging which will be completed in the upcoming months. Much of the work was done inside a building on the Lunenburg waterfront.
History: The Bluenose II is a replica of the original Bluenose, a fishing and race schooner designed by William J. Roue that won worldwide fame for its beauty and flat-out speed.The first version of the Bluenose II, was built in 1963 by the Oland family of Halifax Nova Scotia to help promote the sales of Schooner beer.
By 2013, the Bluenose II will resume a full schedule of sailing.
The image of the original Bluenose is showcased on the Canadian dime since 1937, three postage stamps, and the Nova Scotia license plate.
Sources:
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2012/09/29/20244881.html
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1264360--thousands-on-hand-for-relaunch-of-restored-bluenose-ii
Saturday, September 29, 2012
The History of Cruise Ships
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Appeal of Cruise Ships
- Hassle and stress free (you unpack once)
- You don’t have to drive to a variety of places (different ports)
- Pampering
- Relaxing (being out on the quiet ocean)
- Lots of things to do on board (ex. Cooking classes, dance lessons, swimming, yoga, sports, exercising just to name a few)
- Get to travel an extensive geographical area
- Opportunity to shop
- Wide variety of meals
- Accessible to groups and wheelchair accessible
- Romantic experiences
- A learning environment
- Great value for the money!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Continuation from yesterday's post concerning History in the making: Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight over California
Every event must first begin in the present.
We can also frame (outlook, approach) the event based on previous events, our own personal experiences, previous knowledge, research, books/articles we have read on the subject, the media.
By creating a frame of reference we can judge, critique, assess, compare/contrast, look at cause and effect of an event.
This event than can be judged (criteria can vary from person to person- subjective).
We can also look at the event in terms of other similar events? How does this event compare to previous events? Look at scale, possible effects, etc.
For example, forest fires have been a major issue in much of the United States in 2012. We can compare these events to previous forest fires. We can also look at the scale (how much forest burnt?) We can also look at where and when these fires took place.We can look at the loss of land, buildings, and unfortunately lives. We can look at cost. But we can also look at it with a historical theme/thought process.
Comparing to previous years or previous forest fires for comparison purposes.
Will this fire be remembered in 5 years, 10 years, or even 20 years? What would people say?
We can look at long-term effects (environmental, etc).
We could study how the media covered the fire coverage.
We need to think of present-day events in terms of their historical implications.
As a society we also need to think and criticize/analyse the world around us not just take everything at face value.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
History in the making: Space Shuttle Endeavour's final flight over California
Why do we have such a fascination in outer space? Where and when did this fascination start?
Importance of the stars (for example, navigation)
Ancient Grecian and Aztec's believed the world was flat.
There is a glimpse into different worlds.
Immense size of outer space.
Mysterious.
The unknown.
As many of us are aware space travel and NASA is changing. The retirement of the Space Shuttle Endeavour marks a change in man's ability to travel in space.
Some statistics:
Endeavour was created in California to replace the Challenger (1986 launch accident).
Endeavour went on to fly 25 missions- 12 to help construct and outfit the space station.
Endeavour logged nearly 123 million miles or 198 million km in flight during 4,671 orbits.
Those are amazing and crazy statistics.
How many people have either watched videos, looked at pictures, or for the lucky few saw the fly over California in person?? Why the popularity? Why the fascination?
We have witnessed the landing on Mars by the Curiosity Rover on Aug. 5th, 2012. Why are we so interested in Mars? The unknown- the nearest planet. Curiosity/willingness to explore it for signs of life.
I think part of this is our curiosity/wanting to know why are we on planet earth and not somewhere else (like Mars).
Friday, September 21, 2012
Defining terms: generation, society, era
- Generation:
- the entire body of individuals born and living at about the same time: the postwar generation.
- the term of years, roughly 30 among human beings, accepted as the average period between the birth of parents and the birth of their offspring.
- a group of individuals, most of whom are the same approximate age, having similar ideas, problems, attitudes, etc. Compare Beat Generation, Lost Generation.
- a group of individuals belonging to a specific category at the same time: Chaplin belonged to the generation of silent-screen stars.
- a single step in natural descent, as of human beings, animals, or plants.
- an organized group of persons associated together for religious, benevolent, cultural, scientific, political, patriotic, or other purposes.
- a body of individuals living as members of a community; community.
- a highly structured system of human organization for large-scale community living that normally furnishes protection, continuity, security, and a national identity for its members: American society.
- such a system characterized by its dominant economic class or form: middle-class society; industrial society.
- a period of time marked by distinctive character, events, etc.: The use of steam for power marked the beginning of an era.
- the period of time to which anything belongs or is to be assigned: She was born in the era of hansoms and gaslight.
- a system of chronologic notation reckoned from a given date: The era of the Romans was based upon the time the city of Rome was founded.
- a point of time from which succeeding years are numbered, as at the beginning of a system of chronology: Caesar died many years before our era.
- a date or an event forming the beginning of any distinctive period: The year 1492 marks an era in world history.
Structure of this blog
I am still developing a format/structure for this blog. I think it is a work in progress.
- I want to discuss broad topics of history.
- I want to talk about different themes in history (gender- women in history, history of the family, to name a couple).
- I want to discuss different areas of history (political, economic, military, criminal, government, but deeper more personal history of specific people and families (lower-class not just upper-class).
- I want to talk about history from many different places (Provincial, City specific, Countries, Eras)
- I also want to mention different historical events- looking at multiple perspectives.
- We will talk about historical figures.
- We also talk in more general terms about historical research- how to study history?
- Terminology- historical terms or terms you might find in a history book.
- We will also look and discuss different books, articles, magazines, and websites (review of historical literature).
What is the practicality of historical research?
For example: The anniversary of 9/11 was a couple weeks ago and I saw many Facebook posts asking where were you when it happened? This event ties people together- creates an atmosphere to talk (discussion). It can draw people together. This is a historical event (large range of implications, things have happened since than because of it- such as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the interactions between different groups of people).
Below are some questions/thoughts on historical study to consider/think about.
Why am I personally interested in history? I am interested in the human connections not just with other people but also how we connect and interact with the larger world. I also find technology, architecture (love old buildings-character), artwork, music, dramas- plays, stories, fairy tales, artefacts (clothing, make-up, hair styles, furniture, household goods, food) etc fascinating. It allows us to explore, to open our minds. To think deeper- about other people.
For ex. Does a particular building style of a particular era say something about how people lived?
Why study history? I think that in order to understand the present, you must understand the past. How can you move forward without understanding the past (where we came from, how we got where we are now).
What is the purpose of studying history? First we must be specific about the word purpose. What is your purpose in studying anything? Why do people study? To gain knowledge. Knowledge is powerful- it leads to understanding.
What is the reasoning behind the studying of history? I think the first 3 questions relate to each other. We need to discuss the reasons behind studying history- to learn about the past, to understand past people, generations, and societies.
We can debate the concept of understanding the past to not repeat the same mistakes in the future. I am not sure exactly how I feel about this idea yet.
Why do people keep having wars? Are we unable to understood the effects of war?
It's in the past. It has already happened/taken place. We are unable to change the past.
More of a statement than a question but a valuable point (argument that people make about studying history). I think a key word to think about is relevance. People are always looking to make the connection with has it anything relevant to my life. How does this effect my life? How does this connect to my life? How is history relevant to me? Its about making connections with present life- how can you understand (finding meaning, creating connections, interacting with, question, compare/contrast, analyse, critique) the present world (in terms of economics, political, physical, religious, government, among other terms) if you have no frame of reference. Where we have come from (personally but also as a generation, era, society) impacts where we are now and where we are going in the future.
We need to think of the world in terms of the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. These three eras (time periods) interact together.
How does it effect us/our lives? We can look at history on many different levels.
One way to make history personal is to look at the growing fascination with genealogy and the study of our family history (family tree).
What about studying a monument in your town or city? Who was it created for? Why was it created? When? Who created it? Why was it placed where it was? What is the story behind it?
What is research in terms of historical thought/research? It opens doors for many useful skills- critical thinking, analytical skills, communication, and creativity.
Sometimes you go into research with a question that you want to answer.
Sometimes you are looking to discover more.
Sometimes to analyse previous data- to further explore, compare, contrast, make connections.
I would love to hear what your opinions are. Opening dialogue is an important step in discussing history. It involves more than one viewpoint.
Friday, September 14, 2012
Looking at what is history and how to study history
History..........
There are a wide range of definitions of the word history (depending on context).
Dictionary.com defines history as.....
- the branch of knowledge dealing with past events.
- a continuous, systematic narrative of past events as relating to a particular people, country, period, person, etc., usually written as a chronological account; chronicle: a history of France; a medical history of the patient.
- the aggregate of past events.
- the record of past events and times, especially in connection with the human race.
- a past notable for its important, unusual, or interesting events: a ship with a history.
The World English Dictionary defines history as.....
- a record or account, often chronological in approach, of past events, developments, etc
- all that is preserved or remembered of the past, esp in written form
- the discipline of recording and interpreting past events involving human beings
- past events, esp when considered as an aggregate
- an event in the past, esp one that has been forgotten or reduced in importance: their quarrel was just history
- the past, background, previous experiences, etc, of a thing or person: the house had a strange history
- computing a stored list of the websites that a user has recently visited
- a play that depicts or is based on historical events
- a narrative relating the events of a character's life: the history of Joseph Andrews
History really is the telling of stories of the past. Every type of history allows people to tell stories about the past. There is a wide variety of ways to tell stories (we can use art, photographs, newspapers, architecture, magazines, oral stories, and many other forms of artifacts or sources). Every piece of information requires some source (a reference point).
There are also a wide variety of different types of history that you can look and study (depending on your purpose and depending on the questions you are asking) such as military, economic, social, political, art, women's or gender, crime, among others.
History is the art of discovery-asking questions and trying to find the answers through your sources and building on previous found answers (further studying can lead to interpretations). So to study history you must be critical, analytical, put on your thinking cap and act like a detective.
History is the telling of people stories (whether it is one individual, a larger group, a country etc). We must help tell someone's story and use their story to establish what this tells us about the world around them. A story about a stay-at home woman during a war would be very different story than a military man on the front lines but they are both valid and helpful stories that when combined together we can see a fuller/brighter picture of what the world as a whole was like during that time period.
We also can compare history to a puzzle- we are always looking to fill in the missing pieces that create a more well-rounded picture. Will we ever have all the pieces of the puzzle? Not necessarily but we can try to move towards a more complete picture. The advancements in technology have gone along way to allowing us more opportunities to complete stories and pictures of history.