Spotting the Differences: Understanding Historical

Approaches

Fall 2012

What is a Historical Approach?

An organizing framework that shapes the questions you ask, the sources you read, and the “glasses” you use to interpret that material

What is a Historical Approach?

An organizing framework that shapes the questions you ask, the sources you read, and the “glasses” you use to interpret that material

A set of principles or assumptions you use to analyze a body of evidence

What is a Historical Approach?

An organizing framework that shapes the questions you ask, the sources you read, and the “glasses” you use to interpret that material

A set of principles or assumptions you use to analyze a body of evidence

A widely-embraced pattern of thought

What is a Historical Approach?

An organizing framework that shapes the questions you ask, the sources you read, and the “glasses” you use to interpret that material

A set of principles or assumptions you use to analyze a body of evidence

A widely-embraced pattern of thought The way that you (the viewer) make sense of

your subject (the viewed) (a postmodern definition)

Example: Gender History

This includes the study of how men and women define their roles in society and how they construct gender roles

Example: Gender History

This includes the study of how men and women define their roles in society and how they construct gender roles

Questions often revolve around definitions of masculinity and femininity

Example: Gender History

This includes the study of how men and women define their roles in society and how they construct gender roles

Questions often revolve around definitions of masculinity and femininity

Usually relies on a “bottom up” perspective

Example: Gender History

This includes the study of how men and women define their roles in society and how they construct gender roles

Questions often revolve around definitions of masculinity and femininity

Usually relies on a “bottom up” perspective Gender is “a socially constructed series of

behaviors that code one as male or female, but that vary across time and space in such a way as to reveal their constructed nature” (Downs, Writing Gender History, 3)

Why Do These Approaches Matter?

Many different approaches, when considered together, bring us closer to the “truth” Creates DIVERSITY

Why Do These Approaches Matter?

Many different approaches, when considered together, bring us closer to the “truth” Creates DIVERSITY

Help shape the questions you believe the documents can answer

Why Do These Approaches Matter?

Many different approaches, when considered together, bring us closer to the “truth” Creates DIVERSITY

Help shape the questions you believe the documents can answer

Help you make sense of a myriad of documents

Why Do These Approaches Matter?

Many different approaches, when considered together, bring us closer to the “truth” Creates DIVERSITY

Help shape the questions you believe the documents can answer

Help you make sense of a myriad of documents Help historians understand where other

historians are coming from and, consequently, the strengths and limitations of the analysis

Challenges of Interpretation

The “ready-made analysis” trap

Challenges of Interpretation

The “ready-made analysis” trap The “stubborn and narrow minded” trap

Challenges of Interpretation

The “ready-made analysis” trap The “stubborn and narrow minded” trap The “boring” trap

Challenges of Interpretation

The “ready-made analysis” trap The “stubborn and narrow minded” trap The “boring” trap The “right think” trap

Challenges of Interpretation

The “ready-made analysis” trap The “stubborn and narrow minded” trap The “boring” trap The “right think” trap The “tunnel vision” trap