Remaking History: The Past in Contemporary Historical Fictions

Book Details:

• Author: Jerome De Groot

• Brand: Taylor & Francis Ltd

• Edition: 1st

• Binding: Paperback

• Pages: 246

• Release Date: 04-08-2015

• EAN: 9780415858786

• Package Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches

• Languages: English

About The Book:

Remaking History by Jerome De Groot explores how historical fictions—ranging from films, television shows, novels, and even cultural phenomena like superheroes and vampires—shape our understanding of the past. By examining these forms of popular culture, the book delves into the complex relationship between fiction and history, highlighting the ways in which these texts both teach us about history and offer reflections on how the past is constructed.

De Groot argues that historical fictions do two main things:

1. They contribute to the historical imaginary, shaping how audiences understand and relate to the past.

2. They allow reflection on the construction of history, questioning how historical narratives are formed, ordered, and represented.

The book uses examples from popular culture—such as the TV series Mad Men, Downton Abbey, and Howard Brenton’s Anne Boleyn, as well as the works of filmmakers like Terence Malick, Quentin Tarantino, and Martin Scorsese—to demonstrate how historical fiction helps us engage with the "strangeness" of the past and the ways history is constructed as something foreign, even exotic. De Groot incorporates philosophical and theoretical insights from thinkers like Marx and Derrida to critique how history is represented in fiction.

Key Features:

• Accessible and engaging: The book makes complex philosophical discussions accessible, using examples from films, TV, and novels that are familiar to contemporary audiences.

• Interdisciplinary approach: Combines history, fiction, philosophy, and popular culture to explore the processes of historical representation.

• Critique of historical narratives: Challenges readers to rethink how history is constructed and represented in various media, questioning the authority of traditional historical narratives.

Remaking History is a must-read for students and anyone interested in the intersections of history, fiction, and popular culture. It offers valuable insights into how historical narratives are shaped by fiction and how the past is reimagined in contemporary culture.