8 minute read
Interview with Alumni, History: Then and Now
Alumni from the University of Idaho History Department graciously provided answers to the following questions!
How do you use history in your career or life?
How do you think history will view what has happened in 2021 so far? What would the textbook section on 2021 [so far] be like? What conspiracy theories surround this time in the future? Please feel free to be creative with your answer.
1st question..........................................................................................................Pg.7 2nd question......................................................................................................Pg.8 3rd question.......................................................................................................Pg.9 4th question......................................................................................................Pg.11
INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI HISTORY: THEN AND NOW
August Brereton
"After graduating with my BA in History from University of Idaho, I decided to pursue my Masters degree at University of Oregon. As I deepen my study of history to incorporate more original research, I find myself often returning to the skills I learned at U of I. This summer, I am hoping to start the interview process for oral history project about 1990s Russian and Ukrainian internet brides. I also teach sections of lower division classes here at U of O. History informs every aspect of my career and life now. "
Susanna Markert
"I am currently finishing my doctoral dissertation in medieval history at the University of Oxford and doing a little bit of undergraduate history teaching as well. So history is a pretty big part of my life! Outside of professional matters, I find that my historical training affects more practical aspects of life. Historical research fundamentally relies on source criticism and, in this age of misinformation, these skills can be effectively used to deal with the constant influx of information and to evaluate its source, audience, potential biases, and general reliability. "
John Williams
"I think a training in history is the most important part of my education. Its all about gathering points, analyzing them, and presenting them simply and convincingly so I think that can be appreciated in any profession. That being said, once you dip your toes into history its too cool to do anything else. "
Chloe O'Neill
"My education in history provided me with essential basics for research, critical thinking, and contextual application. My personal and professional love of history has shaped my career and entire way I interact with the world around me. "
INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI HISTORY: THEN AND NOW
August Brereton
"That' s a tossup between Dr. Kittell' s Reformation and Dr. Spence ' s History of the Occult. Although I wound up pursuing a different field of history, both classes taught me so much and really extended the way I thought about religion and the occult. I still find myself referencing Keith Thomas ' s Religion and the Decline of Magic. I remember seeing that book for the Reformation class and thinking "how am I going to find the time to read this?" because it was so big. It ended up being one of my favorite things I read in undergrad, but more importantly that class taught me how to read for argument, which I use in grad school all the time. "
Susanna Markert
"My favorite history class was definitely Dr. Kittell' s Constitutional and Legal History in Medieval England. This class explores the development of English Common Law in its earliest forms. It was the foundation of my interest in legal history and the vital role which administrative practices, and personal convenience, played in the formation of institutions. It was also my first introduction to the rewarding, if difficult, use of legal sources in historical research. The class was challenging in all the best ways and has certainly stayed with me. "
John Williams
"I was taking engineering courses as a freshman when I took Rick Spence ’ s Conspiracy class. So being just off of reading the DaVinci Code, it was the class that hooked me. "
"I could provide a list of about twenty, but I will say the Reformation course with Dr. Kittell and Contemporary American History with Dr. Scofield. Or frankly, anything taught by either of them, I was most likely registered for at least one of each of their courses every semester. Although the content they each cover is so different, their individual enthusiasm and expert knowledge left my mind blown from discussions and readings almost every class. "
Chloe O'Neill
INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI HISTORY: THEN AND NOW
Question 3: If you could make an adaption, whether film, drama, book, or some other type of adaption, of a historical event, which historical event would you choose? Why?
August Brereton
"Perhaps because I am so involved in it right now, I would love to see an adaptation about the Wild 1990s in Russia. I recently read Women and the Birth of Russian Capitalism by Irina Mukhina which is about the shuttle trade, where independent people (mostly women) would import huge amounts of otherwise not available consumer goods and sell them at a markedup price in the newly capitalist Russia. I think a general Western audience might see the 1990s as a time of prosperity, the internet boom, etc. and seeing the struggles of people in the former Soviet Union would complicate that perspective. "
Susanna Markert
"Interesting question. No particular event springs to mind, but I suppose I can think of the type of thing I would like to see. Often, I find that media adaptations focus on perceived 'big' historical narratives - battles, wars, 'important' people or events. I am much more interested in stories that illustrate the ordinary or everyday, such as the microhistory approach of the book and subsequent movie The Return of Martin Geurre. I think micro-historical approaches and their media adaptations have the potential to illustrate both the common humanity in the past as well as confronting ways in which historical periods are fundamentally different from our current frames of reference. An example from my own research might be the story of the two Kettlethorpe sisters in Yorkshire in the early fourteenth century. The sisters were involved in a long-running legal battle against their older (male) cousin who had stolen land which they ought to have inherited from their deceased father. It is an interesting story with lots of twists and turns as the court battle continued across several years with multiple reversals, complete with lots of underhanded scheming by the cousin and at least one very dramatic courtroom outburst (which are always entertaining!). Despite being at a distinct disadvantage due to their gender and relatively poor economic position, the two sisters were ultimately able to leverage the authority of the local court system in order to regain their inheritance. A happy ending!
This story has intrinsic dramatic interest and provides a glimpse into the reality of ‘ normal’ life in medieval England. It shows that, although women were certainly marginalized in medieval culture, they did not entirely lack agency or the resources with which to defend their rights. Small stories like these can have big impacts. "
INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI HISTORY: THEN AND NOW
Question 3: If you could make an adaption, whether film, drama, book, or some other type of adaption, of a historical event, which historical event would you choose? Why?
John Williams
"I think we need more WW2 Movies… but really, I’d like to see an early Egyptian Movie but without fantasy. Think like a mix between Apocalypto and Troy. "
Chloe O'Neill
"I would definitely choose a podcast or docu-series. My world right now connects politics, education, and history so I would do some sort of mash up of the history of media and politics and its influence on civilian knowledge and political identity. "
The Great Pyramids at Giza
Kettlethorpe Hall
INTERVIEW WITH ALUMNI HISTORY: THEN AND NOW
Question 4: How do you think history will view what has happened in 2021 so far?
August Brereton
"I hope that this point in history will be viewed as the challenging times that precede a major reform - in healthcare, higher education, and employment. I can see an oral history project about the quarantine, remote work experiences, and COVID-related sacrifices. I hope that narrative ends with a transition into sunnier times, but I guess we will see. As for conspiracy theories, I know a popular one will be the Trump-Putin connection. "
"I think about this often. This has felt like one of the craziest periods of history in a long time, or at least during my lifetime, and I wonder if that perception is actually true or is it just me growing up and seeing more of the world? Actually, I would love to discuss that question with my history cohort and faculty at U of I to hear perspectives on that. 2021 has used the word “ unprecedented” routinely so regardless of the true amount, this year definitely has several notable historical moments that will be discussed for decades. "
John Williams
"I really think the consequences of the last year are going to be felt for the next twenty years or so in terms of the fallout. So while I’d hope that we could avoid the natural consequences of a pandemic, wealth, gender, and racial inequality, we are probably going to see 2021 as some sort of tipping point. "
