LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Thursday, February 28, 2013

Eye Strain + Richmond, VA

Transferring so many notes and organizing them.  Reading pdfs.  Very hard on the eyes, and gives you a headache.

So, el V takes us out to dinner.  I wasn't up to planning and doing all that is done for dinner tonight.

Besides we had to discuss how we wanted to do our upcoming travel.

Richmond, Virginia first, we're thinking. There is no question, this is historic / museum Richmond.  We're looking to find out which are the best historic tours.  Contemporary Richmond isn't unworthy, it's just our mission is the past.

No matter though, we won't be finding this - and likely it wasn't there even during the time it was painted; it's impossible not to notice when you plug "Historic Richmond" into Google images, not a figure of color is to be found. All those people in the kitchens making that delicious Virginia food -- they are all period costumed white people.  Whereas, historically, it's fairly safe to say that for centuries those kitchens did not have any white people cooking in them



We probably will visit our friends in Charlottesville (hometown for Monticello) before heading back.

Followed a few weeks later by Charleston and, maybe, Savannah. The same holds for them as for Richmond.

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