📘 Part 3: History

This episode's vocabulary

Grasp (noun) - understanding.

Sustainability (noun) - the quality of being able to continue over a period of time.

To pick up (phrasal verb) - to learn interesting or useful information from someone or something.

To appeal (verb) - to interest or attract someone.

Port of call (noun) - the first place where one stops to visit, accomplish something, or begin a process.

To depict (verb) - to represent or show something in a picture or story.

Nuance (noun) - a very slight difference in appearance, meaning, sound, etc.

To regulate (verb) - to control something, especially by making it work in a particular way.

Preservation (noun) - the act of keeping something the same or of preventing it from being damaged.

Lax (adj.) - without much care, attention, or control.

Interactivity (noun) - the involvement of users in the exchange of information with computers and the degree to which this happens.

To immerse yourself in something - to become completely involved in something.

Reservoir (noun) - a place for storing liquid, especially a natural or artificial lake providing water for a city or other area.

To elaborate (verb) - to add more information to or explain something that you have said.

Integrated (adj.) - with two or more things combined in order to become more effective.

Augmented reality (noun) - images produced by a computer and used together with a view of the real world.

Commodity (noun) - a substance or product that can be traded, bought, or sold.

To commodify (verb) - to treat or consider something as a commodity (= a product that can be bought and sold).

Funding (noun) - money given by a government or organization for an event or activity.

Upkeep (noun) - the cost or process of keeping something, such as a building, in good condition.

Entry fee (noun) - money paid to join an organization, go into a place, or take part in something.

Continuity (noun) - the fact of something continuing for a long period of time without being changed or stopped.

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Questions and Answers

M: Should everyone know history?

R: I suppose the grasp of the basic facts and generally agreed course of history is key to the sustainability of any society. If we can't agree where we came from, or how we got there, then what's the point on doing anything together?

M: In what ways can people learn history?

R: They could pick up a book. And if that doesn't appeal, there are videos and websites. And well, they're even games that teach elements of history, like the Oregon Trail, for example.

M: How can children learn history?

R: I suppose their parents are generally the first port of call for any information on that front, since they spend the most time with them. And there are loads of picture books that depict parts of history as well. Teachers usually come in later and add a lot more nuance to things.

M: Is it hard to protect historical buildings?

R: I couldn't say for certain, since it's not my area of expertise. At a guess, I would say it depends on how old the buildings are and what the laws are that regulate their preservation. If it's a 1000-year-old temple in a country with very lax laws, the chances are, it will be hard to keep the thing in good condition.

M: How can technology make learning history more interesting?

R: Well, by adding a certain level of interactivity and novelty that draws people in and immerses them in the environment that they're studying to a certain extent. That would be quite useful for getting people, well, interested for lack of a better term.

M: And will this happen in the future?

R: I would say so given that we're integrating technology with everything these days.

M: Are history museums useful?

R: As reservoirs of knowledge, culture and artefacts, they're quite useful, since you need places to store these things. As learning experiences that will depend on the quality of the establishment and the interest of the visitors.

M: How do museums teach people history?

R: They focus on a specific aspect, or they usually do and elaborate on it in detail that's just not possible through reading or viewing things about it. If we take the Natural History Museum in London, for example, it recreates environments and experiences to show people what things looked like from the inside out and demonstrate why they're important.

M: Will museums be replaced by technology?

R: Well, as technology becomes more integrated with human life, it will probably transform aspects of museum experiences from occasional special events to more general and readily accessible things. You could take video tours or virtual or augmented reality tours from the comfort of your own home. That would be quite fun.

M: Should museums be free?

R: Oh, shouldn't everything? That would make everybody very happy. Seriously, though, since we live in a fairly capitalist society where everything is commodified in some way or another, I don't that's possible or desirable. Nothing is free and you would need to find the funding for the upkeep and paying the staff somehow. I think a small entry fee with some outside funding is reasonably acceptable.

M: Should people remember their family's history?

R: If it's worth preserving, then yes. It gives you a sense of continuity and purpose and history, in addition to something to talk about at parties. For example, you could talk about a famous relative, or what a current relative and the person you're talking to have in common. It's useful to know.

M: Thank you, Rory, for your answers! They are part of our history now.

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