The Use of History for Recreation

The Use of History for Recreation

An increased interest in historical knowledge has grown significantly

over the last few years. Public history such as museums and places

with heritage interest are high on the list of recreational activities

and for many people watching television drama and documentaries or

reading a historical novel is the only way that they will gain any

knowledge of the cultures and events of past times. Watching

television is a popular pastime and it allows for the presentation of

historical knowledge to the masses without the need for a deep

academic understanding. History presented through the television can

be produced with a specific audience in mind; war stories for men,

easy and fun history for school children; presented in a way that

grabs the attention of its intended target. Visiting museums and

seeing the artefacts can form our ideas of what the people of the past

were like and how they lived their lives and although the items are

not usually situated in the context from which they came we are still

able to get some idea of the sense of the past. The fact that we are

able to visually appreciate the past makes history considerable more

accessible to the general public.

Through the dramatisation and reconstruction of history in various

forms it allows for a more personal experience and as such more

enjoyment is gained and historical knowledge is passed on. However,

not everyone agrees that history can and should be learnt and enjoyed

in this way. Many academic historians criticise the use of history

outside of the academic facilities and believe that by presenting

history in this way is glamor...

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http://media.guardian.co.uk/mediaguardian/story/0,,582362,00.html

[8] Simon Schama, ‘Television and the trouble with history’, The

Guardian, 18th June 2002

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,739347,00.html

[9] Will Hutton, ‘Great television, but is it history’, The Observer,

16th June 2002

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,738290,00.html

[10] ibid

[11] Ludmilla Jordanova, History in Practice, London: Arnold, 2000, p.

143

[12] Ibid, p. 141

[13] The Museum of Childhood,

http://www.vam.ac.uk/vastatic/nmc/index.html

[14] Ludmilla Jordanova, History in Practice, London: Arnold, 2000, p.

141

[15] Will Woodward, ‘History on TV a mixed blessing, says academics’

The Guardian, 21st July 2003,

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1002182,00.html

[16] ibid