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Post by drinksmithwicks on Feb 14, 2009 20:20:57 GMT -5
How so Smithie? I've found a lot of PBS's historical programming amazing. Also HBO has taken up the reigns with mini-series like "Band of Brothers" and "John Adams". It seems, to me at least, that the study of history is becoming more and more mainstream. It's pretty cool I think. Would you give examples of how you think history is being watered down? I'm referring to the sketch-like docs they do on the History Channel and History International. The way they are put together, a lot of the things that are actually speculation, they treat as semi-factual. They use drama to fill in the blanks, forcing the viewer to react a certain way about something that they can never really experience, especially when it occurred hundreds or thousands of years ago, when definitions of morality were quite different from how they are today. I don't watch any of those dramatized miniseries', again, because they are Hollywood-ized speculation. If they were to make a true biographical sketch of anything, it wouldn't be as dramatic or interesting as the movies. Someone once said, "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend". I guess ultimately, these dramatizations are designed to get people to appreciate history, but I get irked when there are movies out there like Gettysburg, which, while a decent movie, was actually based on the novel The Killer Angels, and NOT on any collection of historical documents. And it seems when people refer to histoy or historic events, they recall what happened in movies more than what may have actually occurred in the historic texts. This is a really difficult thing for me to try to explain in a simple board post, if you haven't noticed. |
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Post by lizmontana on Feb 14, 2009 20:42:09 GMT -5
I agree w/the watered down history on TV...its entertaining though...you just have to see the credits to believe just how accurate the depiction was. As for history, thats watered down too. Textbooks are so biased and leave out huge chunks of information and/or are written in a biased way. Funny but some people that live outside the states have a better grasp of American history that some Americans. I found the interview ok....less about his lineage and more about him and the band please! As for listening to different languages...we have that in America too! In fact, I can walk out of my apartment and hear at least 5 different language spoken! (Hey gotta bat for the home team some time...right  ) Thanks for posting the interview! Liz |
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Post by clevermoniker on Feb 14, 2009 21:33:06 GMT -5
I understand what you're saying Smithie. Subjects are usually more complicated than a half hour t.v. show could possibly ever cover. You should see "John Adams" though. It was amazing. BTW have you ever read any of Graves' I, Cladius stuff? So good.
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londonmews
Full Member
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Posts: 210
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Post by londonmews on Feb 15, 2009 14:37:23 GMT -5
My favorite (sarcastic smiley) is when the History Channel has shows about dinosaurs and treats them like documentaries complete with eyewitness accounts.
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Post by drinksmithwicks on Feb 15, 2009 15:10:18 GMT -5
My favorite (sarcastic smiley) is when the History Channel has shows about dinosaurs and treats them like documentaries complete with eyewitness accounts. Maybe the filmmakers had Deloreons and actually were there. I know if I had one, I'd definitely give it a peek. Hahahaha. |
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Post by drinksmithwicks on Feb 15, 2009 15:12:56 GMT -5
As for history, thats watered down too. Textbooks are so biased and leave out huge chunks of information and/or are written in a biased way. And lets not get started on how some of these "accounts" are based on mistranslations of ancient documents. I always find it funny when there is a news report about new evidence or new translations that force the historians to backpedal. ;D |
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