Comments on: Children’s Historical Agency http://prisonnotebooks.com/2009/10/30/childrens-historical-agency/ Tue, 08 May 2012 23:35:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Jonathan Dresner http://prisonnotebooks.com/2009/10/30/childrens-historical-agency/comment-page-1/#comment-9343 Jonathan Dresner Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:35:49 +0000 http://prisonnotebooks.com/?p=264#comment-9343 <em>I think we are still ambivalent about those who do not have a lot of power in engaging in (e.g. creating or challenging or replacing) the major discourse or epistemes or paradigms</em> True, especially since resistance is so fundamental to both Marxist and Foucauldian ethics. I think the fact that those who are most powerless are often the most numerous, there's a kind of auto-justification there for a social historian (which has its own ethic) who wants to get away from elitist conceptions of historical interest. The interesting thing, though, is that studying "normal people" often results in immensely complicating the conventional wisdom about what's normal, about why conventions exist, and about how they were actually enacted, so that the history becomes a kind of historiography of resistance. I think we are still ambivalent about those who do not have a lot of power in engaging in (e.g. creating or challenging or replacing) the major discourse or epistemes or paradigms

True, especially since resistance is so fundamental to both Marxist and Foucauldian ethics. I think the fact that those who are most powerless are often the most numerous, there’s a kind of auto-justification there for a social historian (which has its own ethic) who wants to get away from elitist conceptions of historical interest. The interesting thing, though, is that studying “normal people” often results in immensely complicating the conventional wisdom about what’s normal, about why conventions exist, and about how they were actually enacted, so that the history becomes a kind of historiography of resistance.

]]> By: Sayaka http://prisonnotebooks.com/2009/10/30/childrens-historical-agency/comment-page-1/#comment-9283 Sayaka Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:55:47 +0000 http://prisonnotebooks.com/?p=264#comment-9283 That's the thing. The definition of "historical agency" really depends on whom you ask -- some have more elaborate philosophical answers than others. But these historians I was referring to usually do not clarify what they mean by that. I would say, "historical agency" is closer to "subjectivity" than "individuality." Indeed, we did settle on the issue of the "economically and politically powerless," but I think we are still ambivalent about those who do not have a lot of power in engaging in (e.g. creating or challenging or replacing) the major discourse or epistemes or paradigms or whatever you call it. Historians have to do history, not only theorizing, so I think it is a legitimate question to ask what is the justification of why we study what we study. And this question, however uncomfortable it is for historians, brings us really close to the often-criticized positivist answer of "because that's what we can study." That’s the thing. The definition of “historical agency” really depends on whom you ask — some have more elaborate philosophical answers than others. But these historians I was referring to usually do not clarify what they mean by that. I would say, “historical agency” is closer to “subjectivity” than “individuality.” Indeed, we did settle on the issue of the “economically and politically powerless,” but I think we are still ambivalent about those who do not have a lot of power in engaging in (e.g. creating or challenging or replacing) the major discourse or epistemes or paradigms or whatever you call it. Historians have to do history, not only theorizing, so I think it is a legitimate question to ask what is the justification of why we study what we study. And this question, however uncomfortable it is for historians, brings us really close to the often-criticized positivist answer of “because that’s what we can study.”

]]> By: Jonathan Dresner http://prisonnotebooks.com/2009/10/30/childrens-historical-agency/comment-page-1/#comment-9282 Jonathan Dresner Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:30:59 +0000 http://prisonnotebooks.com/?p=264#comment-9282 I've not read much of the theory on this point, but what's the difference between "individuality" and "historical agency"? Does the latter imply, as you suggest, historical <em>importance</em> or is a more philosophical point? Just because someone is economically or politically powerless doesn't mean they aren't a legitimate focus of historical study, clearly: that point was settled long ago, it seems. Or is it a more functional question: children have historical agency because they grow up (usually) to be adults, who are presumed to have it. I’ve not read much of the theory on this point, but what’s the difference between “individuality” and “historical agency”? Does the latter imply, as you suggest, historical importance or is a more philosophical point? Just because someone is economically or politically powerless doesn’t mean they aren’t a legitimate focus of historical study, clearly: that point was settled long ago, it seems. Or is it a more functional question: children have historical agency because they grow up (usually) to be adults, who are presumed to have it.

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