Historical interpretations - where can I find sources?

[mollymae]

Hi, I have to write an essay for a class and I'm a little overwhelmed. My topic of choice is how different cultures and societies interpret historical events. (For example, how do the Japanese interpret WWII in comparison to how we interpret WWII?) It's somewhat of a research paper, but I have to include a lot of my own ideas as well. I'm very interested in it but I have no idea where to start. I don't even know if there's a word for the topic I'm thinking about, let alone where to find books, articles or journals about it. Does anyone have any advice?

[Astronuc]

Well one can look at cultural influences on interpretation of history, or historiography.

historiorgrahpy - the writing of history ; especially : the writing of history based on the critical examination of sources, the selection of particulars from the authentic materials, and the synthesis of particulars into a narrative that will stand the test of critical methods b: the principles, theory, and history of historical writing <a course in historiography> Source: Merriam-Wesbter.com


Historical revisionism, i.e. the reinterpretation or subjective interpretation (or misrepresentation) of history, is a concern of some.


There are numerous examples of competing interpretations of history, e.g. the India (Hindu) vs Muslim interpretation of the Partition of India (e.g. http://www.sacw.net/India_History/IHabibCommunalHistory.html ), the Chinese vs Tibetan interpretations of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, China vs Taiwan, the Israeli vs Palestinian interpretations of Israel-Palestine, . . . .

The victor and victim in a conflict will have different perspectives on the conflict, and with that, different historiographies.

Maybe some ideas here - http://www.museumprofessionals.org/forum/call-papers/308-research-education-interpretation-history-museums-historic-sites.html

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O88-interpretation.html

This might also help - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermeneutics

[Andre]

That is an excellent subject Mollymae.

First of all you must realize that the cultural history interpretation does not start with the start of a war like WW_II. There was already a cause for that war, most of the time already a serious difference in interpretation. In Europe one can say that the peace conditions for WW-I already generated a scenario for a WW-II. There was a Casus Belli (http://www.answers.com/topic/casus-belli) for the Japanse actions as well.

Also, the victors write the history, not the losers.

some links:
http://www.bookrags.com/Japan:_an_Attempt_at_Interpretation
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-77619845.html
E-book: We, the Japanese people (http://books.google.nl/books?id=GL8h6wZPqIoC&dq=japanese+interpretation+wwII&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=u7Uw77QWCy&sig=sHC3XFjl_uiKkK5171wF6FQ9W1w&hl=en&ei=CqbgSePHGsLH-Ab50Oj-CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#PPR7,M1)

[mollymae]

Thanks for your help!