Historical Narrative Research Articles

Understanding and Combating Misinformation: An Evolutionary Perspective.

Misinformation represents an evolutionary paradox: despite its harmful impact on society, it persists and evolves, thriving in the information-rich environment of the digital age. This paradox challenges the conventional expectation that detrimental entities should diminish over time. The persistence of misinformation, despite advancements in fact-checking and verification tools, suggests that it possesses adaptive qualities that enable it to survive and propagate. This paper explores how misinformation, as a blend of truth and fiction, continues to resonate with audiences. The role of narratives in human history, particularly in the evolution of Homo narrans, underscores the enduring influence of storytelling on cultural and social cohesion. Despite the increasing ability of individuals to verify the accuracy of sources, misinformation remains a significant challenge, often spreading rapidly through digital platforms. Current behavioral research tends to treat misinformation as completely irrrational, static, finite entities that can be definitively debunked, overlooking their dynamic and evolving nature. This approach limits our understanding of the behavioral and societal factors driving the transformation of misinformation over time. The persistence of misinformation can be attributed to several factors, including its role in fostering social cohesion, its perceived short-term benefits, and its use in strategic deception. Techniques such as extrapolation, intrapolation, deformation, cherry-picking, and fabrication contribute to the production and spread of misinformation. Understanding these processes and the evolutionary advantages they confer is crucial for developing effective strategies to counter misinformation. By promoting transparency, critical thinking, and accurate information, society can begin to address the root causes of misinformation and create a more resilient information environment.

Unsustainable prosperity? Decoupling wellbeing, economic growth, and greenhouse gas emissions over the past 150 years

Since the Industrial Revolution, modern economic growth has made the world increasingly (if unevenly) rich. This trajectory led to unprecedented improvements in human wellbeing but, at the same time, produced environmental impacts which threaten material prosperity itself. Against this background, the great challenge of the 21st century is to continue to improve global wellbeing while mitigating environmental impacts. For most international organizations and scholars this can be achieved by decoupling economic growth from its environmental costs (as in green growth proposals). However, other scholars question the feasibility of sustaining growth with a sufficiently large fall in its ecological footprint, arguing instead for decoupling wellbeing from economic growth (as in post-growth strategies). How common were these two forms of decoupling in the past? When and where did societies manage to separate wellbeing improvements from environmental impacts? The answers to these questions can allow us to trace the long-run direction of travel of the global economy and to rethink the historical narrative of the emergence and consolidation of modern economic growth by considering its impacts on human wellbeing and environmental change at the same time. We offer the first long-term analysis of decoupling patterns between an augmented human development index (AHDI) and greenhouse gas emissions (GHGe). Moreover, we identify when these patterns were explained by ‘growth decoupling’ (GDP grows faster than GHGe), by ‘wellbeing decoupling’ (AHDI grows faster than GDP per capita), by both, or by neither. Our results show that at low income levels all world regions experienced episodes of wellbeing decoupling; as they became richer, growth decoupling became more common. Nevertheless, we find that such decoupling episodes have proved reversible and that no country in the world has yet managed to achieve very high levels of human wellbeing within planetary boundaries.

On being a scholar/activist: Personal history and acquired wisdom

Requests to publicly think about what one has learned over time are always interesting to me. They require that authors reflect back on a trajectory that may not be totally clear even to the writers themselves. They ask writers to construct an historical narrative that is simultaneously both personal and intellectual/political. In this “acquired wisdom” essay, I want to engage with this combined task, to reflect on some of the political/intellectual/educational history of the development of my work over time, on some of the most important things I have learned, and on the situations and processes that made this more likely. At the same time, I want to situate this development in some of the more personal groundings that might explain how and why the work I’ve done came about. Let me begin with some general points that bear on my later comments about my grounding in politically engaged educational efforts. There are two fundamental motivations behind such critical work. The first is understanding the complex dynamics of exploitation, domination, and subordination that all too often structure our societies and their constitutive relations inside and outside of education. Yet, while understanding is absolutely crucial, it is not sufficient. Emerging out of such understandings is a commitment to interruption. Both understanding and interruption have their basis in a set of ethical and political commitments that are simultaneously collective and personal (Bourdieu, 2003). And both are crucial to me.

Polio, public health memories and temporal dissonance of re-emerging infectious diseases in the global north

Social science research on polio has been centred in the global south, where countries that remain endemic or vulnerable to outbreaks are located. However, closely-related strains of poliovirus were detected in the sewage systems of several New York State counties and London boroughs in 2022. These detections constituted the first encounters with polio in the United States and United Kingdom for a generation – for both public health agencies and publics alike. This paper takes the transnational spread of poliovirus in 2022 as an opportunity to critique how public health memories of twentieth-century polio epidemics were mobilised to encourage vaccine uptake among groups considered vulnerable to transmission, notably Orthodox Jewish families. The study integrates data collected in London and New York as part of academic engagement with health protection responses to the spread of polio. Methods in both settings involved ethnographic research, and a total of 59 in-depth semi-structured interviews with public health professionals, healthcare providers, and Orthodox Jewish community partners and residents. Analysis of results demonstrate that narratives of epidemiological progress were deployed in public health responses in London and New York, often through references to sugar cubes, iron lungs, and timelines that narrate the impact of routine childhood immunisations. While memories of polio were deployed in both settings to provoke an urgency to vaccinate, vulnerable publics instead considered the more recent legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic when deciding whether to trust recommendations and responses. Critical attention to memory places analysis on the divergences between institutional (public health agencies) and peopled (publics) responses to disease events. Responses to re-emerging infectious disease outbreaks engender a temporal dissonance when historical narratives are evoked in ways that contrast with the contemporary dilemmas of people and parents.

(Un)critical geographies of race: A critical race discourse analysis of an online local history resource

ABSTRACT Websites that provide accounts of local history represent powerful curricular possibilities for K-12 history teachers and those of all ages who engage with historical narratives centered on place. The extent to which, however, such resources furnish explicitly racialized interpretations of place often determines how educators and learners can use them in social studies contexts. In this critical race discourse analysis, we examined the function of race in Wacohistory.org, a local history website comprised of 200 entries. Drawing on critical geographies of race as our theoretical lens, we found that the website de-racialized Waco’s geography and ultimately overlooked how racial power has shaped the history of this city, and we consider specifically what this oversight meant for Black Wacoans. Thus, we argue that Wacohistory.org discounted how race has historically determined placed-based access and experiences for Wacoans. This study offers implications and recommendations that speak to what was lost in failing to racialize a particular online history curriculum, contributing to the literature concerned with race-evasive spatial histories that ultimately thwart meaningful local historical inquiry and the theoretical prospects that critical geographies of race offer social studies.

Praktik Asketisme Pra Islam dan Rekonsiliasi terhadap Islamisasi di Gunung Kumbang, Brebes, Jawa Tengah (Abad XVI-XXI M)

Mount Kumbang, located in Ketanggungan Subdistrict, Brebes Regency, has been utilized as a site for ascetic practices since pre-Islamic times up to the present. This research aims to discuss the transition of ascetic practices due to Islamization on the slopes of Mount Kumbang from the 16th century to the present. The research focuses on the narrative of the encounter between pre-Islamic asceticism and Islamization, the forms of cultural reconciliation between pre-Islamic traditions and Islam, and how the ascetic community on Mount Kumbang has been politically portrayed in the process of Islamization. The historical method, encompassing heuristic processes, criticism, interpretation, and historiography, was employed in this research. The results demonstrate that the encounter between pre-Islamic asceticism and Islamization proceeded peacefully and was full of reconciliation. The narrative of Islamization and pre-Islamic asceticism appears in the "Babad Cirebon" and local folklore, which recount the continuation of ascetic traditions such as meditation practiced by Islamic disseminators on Mount Kumbang. Cultural reconciliation between pre-Islamic asceticism and Islamization is also evident in historical narratives, oral sources, and the culture of the community on the slopes of Mount Kumbang, such as taboos, the "ngasa" ritual, and religious practices that exhibit archaic characteristics and are well-documented in historical sources from both the colonial period and the present. The ascetic community has also politically contributed to Islamization by being portrayed as peacefully accepting Islamization, albeit not fully in its entirety. The ascetic community has been utilized as agents to depict the acceptance of Islam, even though it was not shown through perfect Islamic practices. The conclusion of this research indicates the continuity of ascetic practices from pre-Islamic traditions to Islamic traditions, as recorded in historical sources from the Islamic, colonial, and contemporary periods.

Caveat Emptor: The Curious Case of Scotland’s Astorga Collection

Abstract The Astorga Collection comprises 3,716 pre-1800 volumes and forms part of the Special and Named Printed Collections at the National Library of Scotland. This article revisits the nineteenth-century historical narrative surrounding the events that saw part of the Astorga library taken from Spain to France, the result of political pressures, and sold in England to raise funds, focusing attention upon the purchase to understand how the Faculty paid the princely sum of £3,000 for what it believed was some seven thousand volumes only to receive fewer than half that. Use is made of hitherto unexplored archival sources to illuminate the involvement of King Fernando VII in relaxing mayorazgo to help the Marquis clear his debts, and the involvement of the Scottish publisher Archibald Constable (1774-1827) in the Faculty’s purchase, and how a misunderstanding in the Scottish chapter of this collection's history may have resulted in the costly mistake.

A Review on Traditional and Artificial Intelligence-Based Preservation Techniques for Oil Painting Artworks.

Oil paintings represent significant cultural heritage, as they embody human creativity and historical narratives. The preservation of these invaluable artifacts requires effective maintenance practices to ensure their longevity and integrity. Despite their inherent durability, oil paintings are susceptible to mechanical damage and chemical deterioration, necessitating rigorous conservation efforts. Traditional preservation techniques that have been developed over centuries involve surface treatment, structural stabilization, and gel-based cleaning to maintain both the integrity and aesthetic appeal of these artworks. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI)-powered predictive maintenance techniques offer innovative solutions to predict and prevent deterioration. By integrating image analysis and environmental monitoring, AI-based models provide valuable insights into painting preservation. This review comprehensively analyzes traditional and AI-based techniques for oil painting maintenance, highlighting the importance of adopting innovative approaches. By integrating traditional expertise with AI technology, conservators can enhance their capacity to maintain and preserve these cultural treasures for future generations.

Darwin and the biological rhythms.

While the formalization of chronobiology as a scientific discipline occurred in the mid-20th century, the exploration of rhythmic phenomena has a longer history, notably exemplified by De Mairan's observations of Mimosa pudica in darkness in 1729. In this historical narrative, Charles Darwin is known for his investigations into the "sleep movements" of plants. Nevertheless, the complete scope of Darwin's exploration of biological rhythms remains incompletely understood. Through a detailed examination of Darwin's writings, meticulous observations, experiments, and conceptualizations, we unveil a depth of engagement that surpasses his widely acknowledged work on plants, revealing a more extensive interest in and insight into biological rhythms than traditionally recognized.

“Something Miraculous about Them”: ‘Indian Doctors’ and quacks in White Australia, 1880-1930

Delving into the historical narrative of medicine in colonial India and Australia, this article sheds light on a neglected aspect: the role of ‘Indian doctors,’ encompassing oculists and hakims, practitioners of indigenous Indian medicine, within the Australian landscape. Often marginalized in discussions of migration patterns and colonial medical history, these ‘Indian doctors’ possess a rich history intricately interwoven with the complex networks of the British Empire. Drawing upon the insights of scholars who have highlighted the mobility of ‘Indian doctors’ in Britain and Australia, this article underscores their significant presence and impact during the period spanning from 1880 to 1930. Through an analysis of contemporary Australian newspaper reports, the article unveils the popular representations of these practitioners and explores their influence across both regional outposts and urban centres within the confines of White Australia. By bringing the stories of these oft-forgotten healers to the forefront, this article aims to enrich our understanding of colonial medical dynamics and transnational networks.

“Determined to prove a villain”

Abstract Shakespeare’s play Richard III represents a fascinating phenomenon from the perspective of critical disability studies. On the one hand, his portrayal stands at the root of the much-criticised link between evil intentions and a physical deformity; on the other, the play allows Richard to reclaim some of the agency of his own corporeality, as he uses his body to gain his political goals. Translations of this play inevitably mirror contemporary views of non-normative bodies, and the two Slovak versions of the play marking the immediate aftermath of World War II and the last years of the communist rule in former Czechoslovakia provide an ideal ground for observing these shifts against the backdrop of significant sociopolitical changes. This article explores how the subtle nuances in individual translated versions reshape Richard’s image, and ultimately highlights the changing historical narratives of disability translated for different generations of Slovak readers and theatregoers.

Landscapes of Hope

Historians have examined vernacular duplex homes in Milwaukee’s north side neighborhoods to write the history of the white working-class immigrants who settled this industrial metropolis during the early years of the twentieth century. African Americans moved into these neighborhoods in the later decades of the twentieth century. This paper explores how current Black residents construe the history of their neighborhood. To examine what such a historical narrative might look like, this paper presents three stories from a single city block: a twentieth century narrative of growth, a more recent story of decline, and a longer aspirational dream of a shared commons. Grounded in the material world that they observe around them, the current inhabitants assemble these diverse memories in anachronic ways, around multiple experiences of time such as nostalgia, a sense of disenfranchisement in the present moment, and an aspirational dream of a yet unrealized future. This ability to craft a complex narrative of place in a precarious world has emerged as a form of collective resistance against realities of racism, segregation, and urban disinvestment.

The Performance of the Baris Goak Dance in the Pujawali Ceremony at Pura Puseh, Selulung indigenous village, Kintamani, Bangli Regency

This study explores the significance of religious ceremonies in Hindu communities, with a focus on the Pura Puseh temple and the Baris Goak dance in Selulung, Kintamani, Bali. Pura Puseh, an ancient temple of the Kahyangan Tiga, serves as a key site for rituals connected to prosperity and blessings. The Baris Goak dance, unique to Selulung, is a sacred performance that symbolically represents the battle between crows (seen as harbingers of death) and a spiritual hero, Mangku Pucangan. Rooted in cultural and historical narratives, this dance integrates traditional music, costumes, and rituals, reflecting the deep relationship between art, religion, and community identity in Balinese society. The historical development of Selulung village, driven by unity and leadership, further illustrates how these cultural practices have been preserved and continue to play a central role in maintaining spiritual and social harmony. The preservation of the Baris Goak dance, supported by village customs and regulations, highlights the enduring transmission of spiritual and cultural values across generations, ensuring the continuation of a rich heritage in the modern era.

Success Story or Traumatic Experience? An Attempt to Integrate Trauma Theory with Oral History Research for the Interpretation of First-Person Stories

This article focuses on the following issues: (1) how a narrator describes life under political repression in a retrospective first-person story; (2) the extent to which such a story can be analysed from the perspective of trauma theory; (3) what the use of trauma theory in combination with the methods of folk narrative and oral history research can offer for a more diverse interpretation of such a story. The story selected for observation was written in 2001, focusing on events in Soviet Estonia (1940–1941, 1944–1991). At the time of telling this story, the Soviet era was publicly interpreted as a period of interruption of Estonian cultural and political continuity. Social scientists observed the Soviet period from the perspective of cultural trauma. In this way, the narrator presented complex past events in a framework that points to the restoration of historical justice. Although this story represents a positive attitude towards historical and cultural developments in Estonia, the analysis of this story indicates that traces of trauma can be found at the levels of the story that reflect the formation of the narrator’s identity.

Noblessner District in Tallinn: Recycling the Pasts to Discover the Futures

This article analyses strategies for revitalisation of Tallinn’s industrial heritage and reflects on the reuses of history from the late Russian Empire to the Soviet period, referring to the case of the Noblessner district, one of the country's most vibrant and rapidly developing seafront quarters. Contemporary Noblessner advertising promises a European dream city with hipster cafes, galleries, and loft-style art studios located in former shipyards; a promenade along the Baltic Sea coast, trendy business spaces, and residential blocks offered for those who appreciate nature, art, and style (Noblessner.ee, 2024).The Noblessner quarter gives an example of successful transformation of a neglected industrial site into a modern public space with high potential for further development. By referring exclusively to the most attractive moments of its history and by recycling them into attractions, Noblessner creates new narratives of its own urban biography that can be safely projected into the future, and which leave no room for ambiguous interpretations. Therefore, the revitalisation project of the Noblessner district avoids citing controversial episodes from its history, developing a space, in which the past is presented selectively. Noblessner's biography is not introduced as a continuous historical narrative, it is fragmentated and recycled into an appealing wrapping that can attract investors, visitors, and residents. In recent years, Noblessner has become the site of numerous contacts: commercial, artistic, public, and private, which create a space that is representative of the whole Estonia. However, Noblessner's history is still unknown to most of its visitors and residents. It was muted during the Soviet regime, and has not yet been visibly integrated into the revived space.

A Jungian Analysis of Historical Narratives in Family Business

A Jungian Analysis of Historical Narratives in Family Business

Archiving Living Historical Narratives with Youth Participatory Action Research

Archiving Living Historical Narratives with Youth Participatory Action Research

Exploring the extremes: connecting underwater and outer space heritage and tourism

ABSTRACT Just as early navigators set sail to explore the oceans, astronauts venture into space to explore distant planets, moons, and celestial bodies. Exploring the depths of the oceans or travelling into the cosmos represents a quest for discovery, pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and understanding. Whether delving into the depths of the sea or reaching for the stars, the allure of these uncharted territories beckons adventurers and scientists alike to uncover their secrets and unlock new possibilities for exploration and discovery. This hybrid-water-space existence is giving rise to novel forms of heritage, both tangible and intangible. Consequently, discussions surrounding the past, present, and future of underwater and space realms are increasingly relevant. This article aims to delve into the multifaceted realms of underwater and space cultural heritage, with a particular focus on their archaeological significance and potential for tourism. By examining these two domains, it hopes to uncover rich narratives of human history, technological innovation, and cultural heritage that span both terrestrial and extraterrestrial landscapes.

Amatsuchi Kosaku: Reconsidering Postwar Japanese Art History from a Perspective of Ecology

This paper discusses Amatsuchi Kosaku, an artist collective that formed in the late 1980s and continued its unique activities until the early 2000s. Because Amatsuchi Kosaku was based in Shizuoka, it was excluded from the normative narrative of Japanese art history, which has been constructed around artists and artist collectives working in metropolises like Tokyo and Kyoto. This paper examines the “metropolitan-centrism” in the Japanese art history, and reconsiders the artistic practice of Amatsuchi Kosaku, from the perspective of “ecology,” a concept that has been the focus of much attention in recent contemporary art discourse.

Bending Towards Justice: Progress and Societal Narratives

Throughout history, changing societal narratives have played important roles in fostering social change, bringing about progress. However, historical progress is not linear; instead, it is a paradoxical concept involving social advancements, regressions, and ongoing struggles for justice and equality. A myriad of historical and contemporary movements for social justice have contributed to the complex path towards addressing the persistent inequalities and challenges faced by marginalized groups worldwide. Despite these attempts, questions arise regarding the extent to which progress has been realized and whether the ideals of progress envisioned by early theorists align with contemporary realities. This paper delves into case studies of numerous significant global movements, including feminism, anti-racism, Indigenous rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and strides toward liberal democracy, to assess how progress is understood and achieved. It will analyze progress as a dominant narrative of history, examine its various implications, and investigate how it correlates with the idea of democracy.