As his article is an example of historical revisionism, James Loewen displays a bias towards the unknown and unappreciated "underdogs" of American History. Loewen subtly proffers that the giants of American history should be reappraised for faults while the obscure should be ushered to the spotlight. Is this underlying generalization dangerous? Loewen even mentions that there exists a "characteristic American sympathy for the underdog." Do Americans sometimes do the exact oposite of Loewen's textbook's and heroify the underdogs?
"We name institutions after him, from the Woodrow Wilson Center at the Smithsonian Institution to Woodrow Wilson Junior High School in Decatur, Illinois, where I misspent my adolescence." In this sentence, James Loewen uses humor to censure Wilson. By association, the bitterness of his joke portrays Wilson negatively.
"But replying 'none' is too glib, too nihilistic for my taste. It is, however, an understandable response to heroification."
2 comments:
Well done! Keep it going!
Alex, the Course Reader comments only need to appear on Blog Central. This "Bette Midler Appreciation Club" need only address the research you do for your REA.
With that said, you are welcome to discuss how other elements of the course (like the course reader) impact your REA process.
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