Do historians have an obligation to try to correct false information in films about historical events? Are historians failing in their duty to educate the public?
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"Amistad, as Warren Goldstein argued, might be awful history but I don't think I care. I walked out of that film in tears because it was accurate to..."
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- -- Jacqueline R Smetak, PhD, University of Iowa (posted 5/13, 9:40 a.m., E.D.T.)
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"Many historical figures have been fictionalized, and it is a popular and compelling artistic device. Nevertheless, when we are too close to the historical figures involved, it is easy for..."
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- -- Tracy Dowling, Development Manager, American University (posted 5/7, 1:36 p.m., E.D.T.)
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"The Chronicle article regarding historical inaccuracies in recent, popular films frame the conflict as one of history vs. art. I think this misses the point. ..."
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- -- Michael Dodig, Attorney, Lathrop & Gage (posted 4/27, 10:55 a.m., E.D.T.)
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"Perhaps the question should be the difference between interpretation and falsehood for the sake of good cinema. That is, George Washington as an inner city youth trying to..."
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- -- We Waisala, Ramapo College, New Jersey (posted 4/20, 9:46 a.m., E.D.T.)
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"I think the last historian who really liked a movie about American history was former history professor Woodrow Wilson, who in 1915 proclaimed that "The Clansman" (soon to be given an inaccurate new title, 'The Birth af a Nation') was, 'like..."
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- -- Julian Smith, Professor of English and Film Studies, University of Florida (posted 4/12, 1:46 p.m., E.D.T.)
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"Professor Goldstein's essay strongly condemned ideological attacks on accurate history. His attack would..."
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- -- Hubert P. van Tuyll, Augusta State University (posted 4/12, 1:40 p.m, E.D.T.)
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"I strongly second James Teliha's comments. We have to remember that film's such as Amistad and Schindler's List are fiction, not documentaries. Goldstein objects to..."
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- -- Mary Bowman, Adjunct Instructor of English, Lord Fairfax Community
College and Shenandoah University (posted 4/10, 11:09 a.m., E.D.T.)
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"As an historian who writes about issues of gender and medicine, I find many instances when I should speak up about the popular media's portrayal of history. Yet, I also do not..."
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- -- Charlotte G. Borst, Assoc Professor and Executive Director,
University of Alabama at Birmingham (posted 4/7, 5:40 p.m., E.D.T.)
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"Just keep repeating to yourself ... its only a movie ... its only a movie ... its only a movie. Yes, its only a movie. Were Steven Spielberg submitting his film Amistad for his Ph.D. Dissertation in American History, we the committee probably..."
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- -- James K. Teliha, Access Services Librarian, Oregon Institute of
Technology (posted 4/7, 5:35 p.m., E.D.T.)
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"Of course historians should speak out if they feel a movie has seriously distorted the past, but they need to go beyond just pointing out what's wrong with the movie portrayal. They also need to..."
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- -- Toni Levi, freelance writer (posted 4/6, 9:44 a.m., E.D.T.)
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