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On the Silver Screen, the TV Screen & the Front Page? 
“The greatest danger in films based on history isn’t necessarily that you will be told something false, but that the emphasis will be on trivia. To me, the most common distortion of history is done through emphasizing the least important facts of historical events.”—Howard Zinn, historian and social critic, in advance of Sundance appearance, 1/22/09
Today in History
2002: Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl kidnapped in Pakistan; 1997: Madeleine Albright sworn in as first female U.S. secretary of state; 1984: Hulk Hogan beats the Iron Sheik for first WWF title; 1977: “Roots” premiers; 1973: Nixon announces Paris Peace Accords; 1968: North Korea seizes USS Pueblo; 1957: Frisbee’s birthday! 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell is first woman M.D.; 1775: London merchants lobby for reconciliation w/ American colonies; 1556: Deadliest earthquake in history hits China
(History.com)
Zinn's comment is perceptive. The same is true of too much journalism. And for the same reason -- trivia is often simpler and more salable than more serious matter.
ReplyDeleteI strongly disagree with Mr. Zinn.
ReplyDeleteOliver Stone's "JFK" was full of distortions, propaganda, and paranoia. The Jim Garrison he portrayed was no hero -- he was a lying, blustering, vindictive bully who prosecuted and ruined an innocent man.
Historical revisionism posing as truth -- not an emphasis on trivia -- is the greatest danger from films "based" on history.
I do remember a survey by the local newspaper here regarding who killed JFK. The options, as I recall, were communist conspiracy, a mafia hit, Oswald acting alone, and a internal government plot.
ReplyDeleteSomething like 82% of respondents (self-selecting, so not scientific) said that JFK was a victim of a government conspiracy... Who knew so many Utahns would have seen Oliver Stone's movie???
And yet.....it is often a piece of trivia that gives us a detail full of clarity and, a chance to know the people of that time a little better. The new film, for instance, of "Frost/Nixon" gives us a much more real portrait of the man than anything else so far. Though it isn't based on trivia, it is based on the fact that Frost did not succomb to the popular notion of hiding history, in any way or, in any fashion. I think trivia is often our only path into what any history may have been, because, there is always the popular view which varies depending on who is writing it! I think the Bible is a good example of that!
ReplyDeleteHope you are staying warm and well on this January Morning.
-Ali