Cards on the table, folks: I go back and forth on whether Howard Zinn’s A People’s History accomplishes what I want it to accomplish for this course. What I want it to do is this: I want an alternative perspective, something besides Brinkley, that will provoke a response and prompt you all to form your own interpretation. Whether Zinn is the best means to that end, I don’t know. You can help me by giving feedback. And maybe this recent NPR report on a movie version of the book, now in production, will help you form your own opinion. If nothing else, you may be interested to know that a lot of people outside our class are reading and talking about Howard Zinn. So listen, and respond.
Hollywood, Howard Zinn, and AP History
January 26th, 2008 | extra credit | Tagged film, npr, zinn
14 comments ↓
I think that the mini-series of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States is a great idea. I think that the movie will provoke an even more widespread response than Zinn’s book did. It had already started to provoke criticism even before the series came out, from people like a Georgetown history professor. I, however, think that criticism of Zinn’s movie and book is a good thing. While I applaud Zinn’s book for creating a different approach to history, I am not quite sure that I agree with Zinn’s opinions. I would have to do a lot of research in order to argue for or against Zinn’s opinions, however I do think Zinn’s book is a success in that it provokes criticism and praise among historians. I think that the mini-series of Howard Zinn’s book, by including actors such as Matt Damon, will create awareness among average Americans about the different views and approaches to history. It will provoke debates, criticism, resistance and applause and interest in groups of America’s past, such as African- Americans, women and Native Americans, therefore making the movie a success by challenging our common approaches to history.
After listening to the review of Howard Zinn’s book turned documentary, I will be interested to see how his ideas are portrayed in the film. I think it is important for us to read Zinn in addition to Brinkley because it helps us to understand the variations and different sides in history. I think it also helps me to be more aware of the fact that even to this day things can by “spun” by the people in power to make the public believe things different from the truth. I think Zinn, read in combination with another textbook, can be important to a person’s understanding of our countries history. I think it is also important to know of the controversies and biases expressed in it and to hear the other sides, just as the NPR review talked about. All sides of history are equally important because without each one we would not have the real picture of the past of our country.
I think that reading Howard Zinn’s book is a really helpful way to learn more about the US history. You do not really think about the fact that all history is biased and told from different points of view, so by reading Zinn’s book you realize that there are many sides to every historical event, and it just depends on what perspective it is being told from. I think that it is a good idea for Zinn’s book to be made into a mini series or movie. His ideas are at times a little too extreme and he does always tend to put down the oppresor which is a good thing at times but at other times it seems rediculous. I think that a mini series would have a lot of viewers who, like me, did not previously realize that in history you can find more than one account of an event. Reading the book for this course is a good and worthwhile task.
I think that a mini-series on Howard Zinn’s book would be a good idea because it will reveal to the public another view of American history. Reading “A People’s History” has made me expand my perspective of the past and learn history from another viewpoint. His accounts are very radical and biased, but all history is biased in some ways. The mini-series will probably cause a lot of tension because it is not what historians usually tell but I think people should know a different side of history. It’s been beneficial for us to read Zinn along with Brinkley because together the two give us a broader account of history.
Although I personnally am not a big fan of Howard Zinn’s history, I think it definitely shares information that is left out of Brinkley and that helps complement Brinkley’s deficencies. As NPR said, it contains primary sources from historical figurues, and not only the famous ones. He gives a voice to the minority that is not often heard and I think it should remain on the curriculum even if it somewhat undermines my glorious, patriotic vision of American History.
My views on Zinn have varied from chapter to chapter, and it definitely is a more biased and radical view of American history; however, I still think that it is a necessary supplement to this course. I think that the mini-series on Zinn’s book will either be a straightforward, enlightening new view on American history…or it could be a flop. I would hope that the documentary does a good job of portraying the elements and peoples of Zinn’s book; which is essentially the reason he wrote the book, to give a voice to those unheard. I have definitely enjoyed reading Zinn. I think that it should continue to be a supplement to Brinkley, for there is no way that one textbook can include absolutely everything about history. In order to get a fuller, almost complete view of history; it is necessary to have multiple supplements.
I believe that Howard Zinn is a good supplement to our history class but I also think that before learning the debates over history it is important to get a good grounding and idea of where these conflicts began. Zinn provides one side to this debate which, through Brinkley and the basic facts about our history we learn through our lives, we can challenge or agree with as educated people. I believe it is always important to learn what other people are thinking and believing so that you can be prepared to have your own views challenged and be able to defend yourself knowledgably. History is one subject in particular that one needs to know different sides to, because history didn’t happen to just one person. Therefore Zinn is an important source but not the only and fairest one we need to consider
I thought it was very intersting what the person who spoke before Zinn said at the very end, his point was that Zinn’s book somewhat preaches to the choir. If we were not in this history class, I highly doubt this book would be on my reading list. As for the rest of the country, well I can only speak for myself, but I’m not sure an almost 700 page book about American history is hot on the best sellers book. I would think it would be read by those who want to interpret history as Zinn does from the point of view of the oppressed and those who never really had a voice. Making a cable miniseries also does not seem to be as effective as a major motion picture would be. If it is possible to condense this book in a two hour movie, starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, then I think there would certainly be incentive to see it, and would then evoke the hype the book got 30 years ago. As for our history class reading Zinn certainly adds to class discussion, although its hard to want to dive into A People’s History when the ultimate test in the course is literally the AP. This is not the fault of our class it is obviously the nature of APs which is a discussion for a different day, but it would probably be more interesting to flesh out if the point of the course was to study history and look at it from different angles.
I’m not really a fan of Howard Zinn at all, however, i think it will be very interesting to see how the mini series ends up. I’m not really surprised that the book is being made into film. It seems as though young and almost all hollywood takes great interest in expressing their political views when given the chance. Obviously, Zinn is extremely biased but to me it seems as though he takes it to a new level. I think A People’s History is a compelling supplement to Brinkley in the way that it definitely gives a different view, but I do not think Zinn is very original in his beliefs about history. I do enjoy reading someone as radical as Zinn, but i don’t think that Brinkley and Zinn are the only points of views to consider.
Similar to how Liz and Anne feel, I think that i mini series of Zinn’s book would provide the general public with a different view of history. Before reading his book, I had thought of people such as Christopher Columbus to be heros, but Zinn gave a very different interpretation. Whether it is a good thing that the public sees only Zinn’s points is questionable. I have never been a fan of his work, so naturally I’m not too thrilled to see his sometimes anti-American views on the television. But I am a strong believer in educating people and freedom of speech, so why not make a series of A People’s History? But I am not be eager to watch it, that is for sure.
I think Zinn has been an important part of our class discussions and adds a perspective very different from Brinkley. One of the most important parts of a history class, and especially an AP history class, is to be able to have discussions taking into account different points of view. Using both Zinn and Brinkley accomplishes this in class and from the NPR report I believe that the film will accomplish this as well. Zinn said in the report that history is biased and so a widespread selection of opinions is the only way to be able to make informed conclusions and opinions about American history.
I think that the creation of this mini-series or indie film will be a good way to spread Zinn’s ideas and perspectives but as NPR mentioned, they will be ready for a roasting like the book received when it was published. Zinn admits to his biased perspective and says his book is like all history, biased not objective. I think the star power will bring more limelight and attention to this mini-series, but it could distract from what the movie is trying to portray to the audience. Zinn’s point of view will provoke outrage to many viewers but this will create for some intense debates and I’m interested to see how it all turns out. I hope that it goes on Youtube as was mentioned at the end in the event no station signs on their script.
I love Howard Zinn’s book and can’t wait for the mini-series to come out. I realize its bias, as does Zinn as he says in the NPR report, and also like Zinn I can’t wait to see the country’s reaction that he predicts will be very scandalized. The influence of Matt Damon and other actors will hopefully make the mini-series a hit. Brinkley gives a good over-view from a fairly neutral perspective, and I love seeing our nation’s past in a new light in A People’s History. Sure it can challenges images of the brave Columbus, wonderful founding fathers, and so on, but just like Zinn does we can pick and choose our take on history from what we know. It’s best to make an intelligent decision with knowing all the choices and Zinn provides the choice that no one else does, the radical and harsh viewpoint of history bashing many in power. I look forward to the mini series and am glad A People’s History is a supplement to Brinkley to “expand our horizons” as the saying goes.
I’m interested to see how well Zinn’s book will translate onto the big screen. I hope that Zinn’s perspective isn’t changed because of hollywood’s demands. I think that the writers, directors, etc. need to make sure to stress that Zinn’s people’s history is biased. It doesn’t seem like they will, instead it seems like they will try to hide his biases with historical texts. I found it interesting to hear Zinn talking about his book and the film to come. I respect Zinn’s ability to put it right in your face. I’m very interested to see how the film turns out and to what extent it parallels A people’s History. Although I’m interested I can’t see myself sitting down several times to see the mini series, It’d probably be more affective to have a movie on a people’s history. I think overall it’s going to be hard to capture the public’s attention, but with Ben Afleck and Matt Damon’s help I’m sure the mini series will find some success.
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