Looking at History from Below:
The great American author Mark Twain once wrote, The very ink with which all history is written is merely fluid prejudice? (392), which suggests that history is not an objective, detached science, but rather a transmission of a particular version of events informed by the perspective of those recording the events. Historical chronicles reflect the biases of those who compose them, and traditionally this composition is done from above by those who emerged victorious from the conflicts of the past. Likewise, in his essay entitled?
Was America Discovered or Invaded??
Argentine-Mexican liberation philosopher Enrique Dussel suggests that one's position as either conqueror or conquered shapes one's experience and reading of history. Again, the transmission of the record of events is perpetuated by the victors, with the stories and assessments of the vanquished often suppressed, corrupted, or ultimately lost.
For your second essay assignment, reflect on and make an analytic argument about the above quotation from Twain in light of Dussel?s article. In thinking through the issues and developing an analytic claim, consider the following questions:
– What does it mean to look at history from below, according to Dussel?
– What might the prejudice be in the historical narrative critiqued by Dussel?
– How might our perspective of events shift when we consider colonization as invasion rather than discovery?? Is this merely an issue of semantics, or is there something deeper at issue in examining this kind of language and its connection to various understandings of
history?
– What is at stake in examining history from this new viewpoint? Is reclaiming the history of those who were conquered a relevant and worthwhile task? Why or why not?
This essay asks you to summarize an argument and present an accurate descriptive account of it in order to inform your reader and provide context for your own claim. Assume an intelligent reader, though not one necessarily familiar with the particular article that you are discussing. Through summary, paraphrasing, and direct quotations, you should offer your reader a general understanding of
Dussel's theory, without merely repeating everything he says. Once this foundation is laid, then enter into your own analysis of this theory, keeping the above questions in mind, and using strong claims with leading topic sentences to assert your position and guide your reader. Do not, however, simply respond to the above questions; they are meant as a guide to evoke your critical thinking, not as a template for what you have to do. This is a multifaceted topic, and there are many valid approaches to be taken and claims to be made with regard to this issue.
Notice, I have not given you a specific thesis or claim to argue. As always, it is your job as a writer to create your own analytic framework and argument. There is not one single correct answer; there are a variety of answers and responses to these questions that may be equally valid depending on how well they are argued and intellectually supported. As such, this assignment also requires you to
make a critical claim and support it with your own logic and argumentation. I am looking for a thoughtful discussion of the idea of critically investigating history, and a sense of what is at stake in such an investigation. Your paper will be graded in part on the quality of your claim, so make sure you have a clearly articulated position, claim, or argument. You should draw on instruction from Tutorial 2 to construct strong claims and strong paragraphs that assert your position and structure your essay, and to construct paragraphs that are logical units. As well, a key requirement of this essay is to employ the tactics of summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting, as discussed in Tutorial 3, and as outlined in the course text, They Say, I Say, pages 19-52. Be sure to read and follow the advice given.
Length: 3-4 pages, approximately 1200 words. Do not exceed 4 pages plus a separate works cited page. Do not use a title page, but do give your essay a unique title. Do NOT use the title of the assignment, Looking at History from Below, as the title of your essay.
Additional research is not required, and you are welcome to draw on the reading from Bartolom? A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies? If you choose to bring in this resource, or any other outside source, ensure you include it in your Works Cited.
Your essay must be typed (double-spaced) in Times New Roman, 12 point font, with one-inch (2.54cm) margins on your pages. Follow formatting guidelines as outlined in the MLA 7 style and citation guide. A link to this resource is available on Blackboard, under Writing Resources.
Your works cited page should list the following items (as well as any other resources you include).
However, there is one significant formatting mistake in each entry. Your essay must include corrected versions of each entry. Use the MLA7 citation guide, linked on Blackboard, to identify and correct the formatting mistake. A hint: Dussel's work is an article in an academic journal, and Twain's is a book.
Works Cited:
Dussel, Enrique. Was America Discovered or Invaded? Concilium 200 (1988): 126-134. Print.
Twain, Mark. Following the Equator: A Journey Around the World. New York: AMS Press, 1971. Print.