So I am a fan of the National Museum of American History on Facebook, and they posted this on their page. It's from their blog, called O Say Can You See.
http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/osaycanyousee/2012/08/who-are-you-in-5-objects.html
It explains how some education specialists and others from the National Museum of American History went to schools across the country (and internationally) and asked kids to identify themselves in 5 objects. The blog said that "today's everyday stuff will help historians of the future know what it was like to live in America in 2012." I never really thought about this before -- that my stuff may be significant to historians of the future. I can't decide if this is really cool or really scary. But anyway, I talked to my mom about this and asked her what her 5 objects would be. She instantly rattled off "my wedding ring, a picture of Steve [my step-dad], a picture of my kids, my crochet bag, and seeds from my garden." It was really easy for her to identify what defines her life (probably because my mom is awesome).
I, on the other hand, am having an existential crisis about this. Who am I? What defines me? What will historians find in 500 years that will describe me? Will I be an obscure mention in some graduate student's paper called "Life in 2012: These People Were Crazy"? In a way, I think that would be really cool. But what will my 5 objects be?
I guess I'd include this necklace that was my dad's, and a picture of my family now (me, my mom, my step-dad, and my sister). I would include some kind of Wright State memorabilia -- maybe my Bachelor's diploma or a t-shirt or something like that. So that's 3 things. I guess I should include something about history -- maybe a copy of my honors thesis from undergrad. What should the last thing be? I mean, I could put a Twix bar in there and be done with it. But it should be something meaningful to me. I know. I have this video that my great-uncle made a couple years ago about his experiences in World War II. I think that would be it.
The only problem -- a couple of these things only define my life right now. I'm sure I'll write better papers than that honors thesis and get a job somewhere and that will begin to define me later. I think we should be able to have 5 objects for each stage in our lives. I bet most of the 5 stay the same, though.
So, what would you include?
I read this post a few days ago, and have been considering the question of what I would choose ever since. Some things are instinctive, like a picture of my family. After that, it gets tougher. I think part of the problem is being self-conscious about your selections: how will this look if I choose it to represent me? I think you might get more honest choices from children. As adults we would worry about exactly what you said: what would historians of the future think?
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of various discussions we've had in class about "choosing" history and trying to control its interpretation. I could try to make myself look as good as possible to future historians by putting in things like my college transcripts (so close to that 4.0!), a certificate for volunteer service (a humanitarian!), and a picture of me being kind to children, the elderly, and/or small animals. Or I could choose things I love without caring about how juvenile or frivolous they make me look (Harry Potter books, a stuffed turtle, and my polka-dot oven mitt!).
I think that's a really good point. Kids are probably not going to put a lot of thought in the world's view of them in 30 years.
DeleteI think this gets tougher the more you think about it, so I'm just going to go with my gut instinct, I'd include: My purple glasses (because I see the world through them), My ring which has two skulls eating a snake, a globe, A little keyring I have which has a crown on it and my bright yellow nail varnish. I dread to think what the world imagine about me......
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