ISSUE48 [Victors]小组第三次作业 by jennetrj

jennetrjUID: 2275453

48"The study of history places too much emphasis on individuals. The most significant events and trends in history were made possible not by the famous few, but by groups of people whose identities have long been forgotten."

722 words

观点：对历史研究的理解过于片面，人物研究只是方法之一，目的在于反映人类、社会发展、变迁。
1.历史由众多人物、事件组成，不可能独立于个别人物。人物书写历史
2.每人、每时刻都在书写历史，历史的研究往往由期间的人物为入手点，继而深入反映历史背景---- 人群及意识形态( ideology)
3. 历史不可能完全记录所有人物，但并非forgotten,客观存在的people 作为背景融入了历史，包含于历史事件、人物的叙述研究中
4. 历史的研究着重于人类的社、经、文化发展， 名人或历史人物只是其中一部分，研究学者需要防止partially emphasis on individual 而要还本质于历史；认为人物研究湮灭了民众的历史作用也过于极端，需透过表象理解其本质。






Is history simply the aggregation of historical events and persons like magnificent necklace consists of shining pearls? Or has anyone noticed groups of people that remained silent in the history? The speaker claims that too much emphasis on those famous individuals in the study of history and groups of people who advocated to significant events and trends have been unfairly forgotten. I concede some merits of this point of view, however, individual study still serves as one of the most effective ways for historians to surf the past, or probably only through such method could scattered pieces of history be reunited and regain the glory of the past, from which emerge thousands of seldom notified people.

History, records of every step of human race and society, seems to be mere accumulation of famous individuals who attributed to most significant events and social changes according to the history study. Talking about history, historians usually have such well-known names, their relating events and even some anecdotes flashing in mind. We have series of biographies of historical figures on the shelves of bookstores or public libraries. Super-links of names could be easily found on the websites while we want to pursue further study of significant events, and such links are usually much better established than those concerning the historical affairs. Take Microsoft Encarta as an example, over 80% of, or even more, history catalogues is occupied by famous names with several sub-topics while on one page defines the historical events. Let alone the fact that seldom could we pick out a word for googling populace during French Revolution or citizens in Civil Right movement.

Although fewer studies are focusing on groups of people in the history, hardly could we deny that historical character is the indispensible factor in determining historical changes and social development. More or less, these individuals illustrated predominant values of their contemporary people. Study them could be an effective way to well understand the social environment and ideological changes. For instance, by deliberate study of Abraham Lincoln's political growth, we keep pace with the American Civil War, the crucial time for the United States of America when thousands of African Americans struggled for freedom and other valorous people headed for democracy. With absence of the president, the history of the states might be revised or never would exist this nation of dreams. In experiencing every step Lincoln had made, every speech he had proclaimed, we seems to be in the river of history surfing up and down during that upheaval time.

Moreover, being idols of the era or disputable examples in the book of history, historical individuals also served as embodied figure of the whole class. Martin Luther King, the idol of civil rights and anti-segregation movement, from whom we learn the difficult time of America and feel her people's desperate desire for equality in 1960's. Or Hitler, one of the most notorious figures in human history, reminds us how Nazism came into being after World War I and how dangerous it is if we lose an eye on racism, ethnical issues and anti-globalization in the new phase. Apparently concentration on individual study could not only save us time in exploring the sophisticated history, but could help us to get lessons from history within limited resources as well.

Although individuals are the cynosure in academic field, it doesn't necessarily mean that we overlook those ordinary people who were in the shadow of historical persons. On the contrary, these individual’s behavior or the life orbits reflect the exact thoughts, believes and wishes of their class, in other words, the ones whose identities seems to be neglected. We remember Martin L. King as the emblem of people longing for equality, or consider George Washington as ‘father of the United States’ for remembering thousands of soldiers fighting for independence.  

In sum, individual study in history research is just the way we get in touch with our ancestors and their times. Although it might be the main pathway we pursue and gets more concentration, till now we have not find another shortcut to mirror the whole population leading to those significant events and trends in history. Maybe sometime in the future we could get a breakthrough, anyhow, broad our perspective into more comprehensive aspects is the key points not only for history research, but other researches as well.

感觉思路有些乱，求教了！

[ 本帖最后由 jennetrj 于 2007-5-6 15:18 编辑 ]

乳虎UID: 2251211

Is history simply the aggregation of historical events and persons like magnificent (壮丽的,宏伟的)necklace consists of shining pearls? Or has anyone noticed groups of people that remained silent in the history? The speaker claims that too much emphasis on those famous individuals in the study of history and groups of people who advocated to significant events and trends have been unfairly forgotten. I concede some merits of this point of view, however, individual study still serves as one of the most effective ways for historians to surf the past, or probably only through such method could scattered pieces of history be reunited and regain the glory of the past, from which emerge thousands of seldom notified people.问句开头很漂亮.

History, records of every step of human race and society, seems to be mere accumulation of famous individuals who attributed to most significant events and social changes according to the history study. Talking about history, historians usually have such well-known names, their relating events and even some anecdotes flashing in mind. We have series of biographies of historical figures on the shelves of bookstores or public libraries. Super-links of names could be easily found on the websites while we want to pursue further study of significant events, and such links are usually much better established than those concerning the historical affairs. Take Microsoft Encarta as an example, over 80% of, or even more, history catalogues is occupied by famous names with several sub-topics while on one page defines the historical events. Let alone the fact that seldom could we pick out a word for googling populace during French Revolution or citizens in Civil Right movement.

Although fewer studies are focusing on groups of people in the history, hardly could we deny that historical character is the indispensible factor in determining historical changes and social development. More or less, these individuals illustrated predominant values of their contemporary people. Study them could be an effective way to well understand the social environment and ideological changes. For instance, by deliberate study of Abraham Lincoln's political growth, we keep pace with the American Civil War, the crucial time for the United States of America when thousands of African Americans struggled for freedom and other valorous people headed for democracy. With absence of the president, the history of the states might be revised or never would exist this nation of dreams. In experiencing every step Lincoln had made, every speech he had proclaimed, we seems to be in the river of history surfing up and down during that upheaval time.

Moreover, being idols of the era or disputable examples in the book of history, historical individuals also served as embodied figure of the whole class. Martin Luther King, the idol of civil rights and anti-segregation movement, from whom we learn the difficult time of America and feel her people's desperate desire for equality in 1960's. Or Hitler, one of the most notorious figures in human history, reminds us how Nazism came into being after World War I and how dangerous it is if we lose an eye on racism, ethnical issues and anti-globalization in the new phase. Apparently concentration on individual study could not only save us time in exploring the sophisticated history, but (also)could help us to get lessons from history within limited resources (as well).

Although individuals are the cynosure in academic field, it doesn't necessarily mean that we overlook those ordinary people who were in the shadow of historical persons. On the contrary, these individual’s behavior or the life orbits reflect the exact thoughts, believes and wishes of their class, in other words, those identities seems to be neglected. We remember Martin L. King as the emblem of people longing for equality, or consider George Washing(Washington) as ‘father of the United States’ for remembering thousands of soldiers fighting for independence.

In sum, individual study in history research is just the way we get in touch with our ancestors and their times. Although it might be the main pathway we pursue and gets more concentration, till now we have not find another shortcut to mirror the whole population leading to those significant events and trends in history. Maybe sometime in the future we could get a breakthrough, anyhow, broad our perspective into more comprehensive aspects is the key points not only for history research, but other researches as well.

用了很多比喻,很漂亮.

DavidBoyUID: 2140040

写得很好，值得学习