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Dead Wake


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How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

Created: 03/20/16

Replies: 6

Posted Mar. 20, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

Larson was able to piece together much of his book from documents such as journals and letters written to colleagues or spouses. How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?


Posted Mar. 21, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kimk

Join Date: 10/16/10

Posts: 872

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

It seems like, given the ability to record/photograph events as they happen, that on the one hand accounts can be a lot more detailed and accurate. On the other, though, electronic records seem a lot less permanent. It does make me wonder what part of history we may lose over time as a result.


Posted Mar. 24, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
juliaa

Join Date: 12/03/11

Posts: 271

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

I am ambivalent about this question. Recording history in the moment is certainly easier with technology--witness the many cell phone videos that are posted online in the nanoseconds following an event. However, like Kim K, I wonder how permanent some of these technological recordings of history will be. Additionally, a technological glitch can wipe out personal e-mails; old-time paper journals seem to me less destructible.


Posted Mar. 24, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
jwbriggs13

Join Date: 05/09/12

Posts: 37

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

I think it is much easier to have records of events now. Of course, since it is easier there will be much more material for future historians to discover, interpret, and synthesize. We are awash in data now. Imagine doing historical analysis on these data 50 or 100 years from now.


Posted Mar. 28, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
ABeman

Join Date: 01/14/15

Posts: 78

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

The fact that we are awash in data now makes me wonder how narrative nonfiction writers will adapt. Much of what they do now is piece things together and fill in gaps with imagination/speculation. With fewer gaps, in which directions will imagination take creative nonfiction?


Posted Mar. 29, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Sooz

Join Date: 07/29/14

Posts: 62

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

Certainly technology makes recording historical events much faster but I have witnessed these instantaneous reports being highly inaccurate at times. Thus, I agree that usually it's easier but with the caveat that it still requires time to check out the true nature of "facts" and I agree with juliaa that electronic glitches can wipe out valuable information that paper journals/letters, etc. may be more permanent if carefully preserved.


Posted Mar. 31, 2016 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
katherinep

Join Date: 07/16/14

Posts: 374

RE: How do you see the ability to record history changing? Do you think technology makes recording history easier or harder?

The ability to record history immediately is definitely a plus but, of course, WHAT gets recorded is as always up to the historians, such as those in Room 40. In addition, hard copies are durable, cyber copies are not. I have letters from my Mom, my daughter does not. Sad, sad, sad.


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