A Bit of Babble & "Digital History" Course, Blog Assignment 2 (a.k.a. You're A Homework Voyeur!)

Since I have no immediate outlet for my instructional needs, I would like to include regular additions to posts called...  (Incidentally, any former students viewing this blog will remember this pithy title from my "Graduation Exam Remediation" bulletin board located just outside the classroom.)

DID YOU KNOW?

Today's society, particularly in the United States, would do well and progress so much closer towards goal-achievement if it were to remember lessons taught by English literature of the Enlightenment period.  Realism, common sense, and good humor are more dignified equipment for life than victim politics, wishful thinking, and liberal guilt. Certainly, satire is a more effective weapon than emotional blackmail.  However, as for now, our society subscribes to "when in the pasture, do as the 'Sheeple' do."  Ignorance is bliss.  Personally, I want to be an independent shepherd, not a helpless sheep.  Thanks Dr. Kantor!

Want to experience Enlightenment period literature?  Check out the following:  Alexander Pope (The Rape of the Lock), Jonathan Swift (Gulliver's Travels), Samuel Richardson (Clarissa), John Dryden (Absalom and Achitophel), and Henry Fielding (Tom Jones... no, not the singer with panties on his head!).

  

Let's get down to business...

     Good afternoon!  Among innumerable things to be thankful for, I have slept and am slowly, but surely, catching up on my homework.  The very homework that unintentionally fell by the wayside during a technologically-hindered "weekender" (actually, a "first-of-the-weeker") to the shores of Florida.  Mandy and I love to travel.  Period.  Mandy enjoys the relaxation, amenities, and scenery and I enjoy the educational experiences of the trip... as well as her list too!  A majority of my personal archaeological collection was borne from such travel.  Previously, we enjoyed, due to her well-chosen career as a Speech-Language Pathologist (she is AMAZING!), the ability to engage in a jaunt (business or pleasure) at the drop of a hat.  These jaunts may have been within the contiguous United States, or outside her borders.  Either way, there was a special freedom to that ability... and I cherish my ability to be free and individual.  Now, my return to graduate school seems to be hindering my freedom.  What!?  Go figure.  Ha!  This is a very good thing, to borrow a Martha Stewart-ism.  After being laid-off from my last teaching gig, I have found direction once again.  But, just like Tarzan, it's taking a bit of wrangling!  The more heady portion of this "Digital History" course takes place behind the closed doors of a message board.  There are Discussion assignments based on assigned readings. Therein lies my tardiness folks.  But, fear not, oh faithful readers (?), I shall prevail and return to the good graces of our "El Capitan"!  (salute)  I remember the following to soothe my personal under-achievement...

"The test and the use of man's education is that he finds pleasure in the exercise of his mind."

                                                                                           - Jacques Martin Barzun

"Precision is not reality."    - Henri Matisse  

     The assigned reading for my Blog Assignment 2 is Debra DeRuyver and Jennifer Evan's "Digital Junction" from American Quarterly (September 2006).  The topic at hand is online primary source databases.  For those of us who may not remember what a "primary source" is, here's a definition from the University of Maryland, University Libraries website:

"Primary sources are original materials. They are from the time period involved and have not been filtered through interpretation or evaluation. Primary sources are original materials on which other research is based. They are usually the first formal appearance of results in physical, print or electronic format. They present original thinking, report a discovery, or share new information."

Furthermore:

"Examples include:

• Artifacts (e.g. coins, plant specimens, fossils, furniture, tools, clothing, all from the time under study);
• Audio recordings (e.g. radio programs)
• Diaries;
• Internet communications on email, listservs;
• Interviews (e.g., oral histories, telephone, e-mail);
• Journal articles published in peer-reviewed publications;
• Letters;
• Newspaper articles written at the time;
• Original Documents (i.e. birth certificate, will, marriage license, trial transcript);
• Patents;
• Photographs
• Proceedings of Meetings, conferences and symposia;
• Records of organizations, government agencies (e.g. annual report, treaty, constitution, government document);
• Speeches;
• Survey Research (e.g., market surveys, public opinion polls);
• Video recordings (e.g. television programs);
• Works of art, architecture, literature, and music (e.g., paintings, sculptures, musical scores, buildings, novels, poems).
• Web site."

So, it is now my task to find an online primary source database.  I feel preparation for my mystery novel class coming on!  Gumshoe Lollar, on the case for the obscure...

     One of the only grumbles that I have with the University of North Alabama's Department of History is an insufficient offering of World History courses.  With that said, the ones that are offered- particularly the Asian courses- are excellent.  No offense to my beloved and flawed-but-better-than-the-alternative country, I simply love World History far more than U.S. History.  Mind you, teaching U.S. History I and II in high school is really a blast!  As for personal study however, the world is my oyster.  Along these sentiments, I located a brilliant website entitled "Eyewitness to History" at the following link: http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/.  The slogan for the site is "History through the eyes of those who lived it."  That really seems to be primary!  Please join me and let's explore the website further.  At first glance, the site is stuffed full of information.  And what do my eyes behold?  "The Burning of Rome, 64 A.D."?  YES!  Rome is NOT in the United States!  Well, there's the lovely Rome, Georgia... home to some epic apples.  Anyway, THIS Rome is in Italy!  As we meander through this voluminous website, we must address five questions posed by the great Public History leader, Dr. Barske.

1) What types of sources are available?

2) Is the system easy to use?

3) Is there any "other" information available on the site?

4) What things did you find?

5) Can this database help you with your own research?  

Under the header, a visitor will easily spot the various tabs available for exploration.  The topics to choose from are Ancient World, Middle Ages/Renaissance, 17th Century, 18th Century, 19th Century, Civil War, Old West, 20th Century, World War I, World War II, Photo of the Week, SnapShots, Voices, History in Motion, Index, and Home.

1. What types of sources are available?  Referencing the list of topics above, there are writings, quotes, photographs, vocal recordings, video recordings, and movies.  Included are eyewitness accounts, audio samples, photographs of historically-significant events, and film-clips from the past.

2. Is the system easy to use?  Frankly, the website could not be easier to navigate.  One can simply choose a time period or type a topic in the upper-right-side "Search" box.  There is also a complete "Index" to utilize as well.

3. Is there any "other" information available on the site?  Other than a few advertisements, there is no "other" information on this website beyond what has been previously mentioned.  However, there is a link to Ibis Communications, Inc., a digital publisher of educational programming and presenter of "Eyewitness to History."  Check it out!

4. What things did you find?  Within this website of primary sources, I would have to first recommend "The Death of Alexander the Great, 323 B.C." under the "Ancient World" tab; "Cleopatra Seduces Antony, 41 B.C." under the "Ancient World" tab;  "The Druids, 54 B.C." (to celebrate my Celtic roots!) under the "Ancient World" tab; "Dining with Attila the Hun, 448 A.D." under the "Ancient World" tab; "The Death of Pope Alexander VI, 1503" (he was the last of the Borgia Popes!) under the "Middle Ages/Renaissance" tab; "The Death of Magellan, 1521" under the "Middle Ages/Renaissance" tab... all this death?  I'm a guy!... "Loose Lips Sink Ships" under the "World War II" tab; "The Bombing of Hiroshima" under the "World War II" tab (terrible); "Photo of the Week"; "Tokyo Rose" under the "Voices" tab; and "Expedition to the North Pole" under the "Voices" tab.  Certainly, however, everything on this site is fascinating!

5. Can this database help you with your own research?  As the research for my Public History website will be dealing with the topic of Historical Landscaping, other than some entries under the "17th Century" tab, the answer would have to be "no".  However, as I develop courses for the University of North Alabama's Department of Continuing Education, the research and instructional possibilities are limitless... not to mention if I choose to enter into a secondary school classroom again!

     As always, I thank you for your visitation and time spent on my humble blog.  Please, please feel free to offer any thoughts, opinions, and/or additional information.  What's next on the Blog Assignment list, you ask?  "Googling the Victorians"!  As October is fast approaching, this assignment might just push me on over the Halloween-costume edge: Steam-Punk!  Until next time...

Alas, St. Thomas, I knew ye well!  Farewell... for now.

SAPPY DRAMA by Mickey J. Lollar