Revising History
This week I've been re-reading George Orwell's "1984". One of the things that has always fascinated me about the story is Winston's work in constantly revising the history of Oceania by rewriting and refiling newspaper articles from the past.
It's gotten me thinking this week about how reliable our own memories of past events can be. For example, you could have a memory of an event that involves yourself and a friend or friends. Perhaps you have a pleasant memory of this event. Perhaps joyous even.
But does everyone involved in that memory see it the same way in their mind's eye? What if one of your friends was anxious that evening. How is their memory altered by their frame of mind the night the event took place. Certainly they'd remember different aspects of the event. But, whose memory is accurate?
I recently read a retelling of an event that involved myself. And while the facts of the matter are absolutely correct, the tone of that memory, while lighthearted and joyous in the voice of the teller, is somewhat different and darker in my mind.
It's one of those times when you read something or see something...and it seems different...and you want to scream "That's not what happened!"
But, the memory cheats. What is true for me about my memory may not be true for you. Even if you experienced that moment with me.
So, who is right? Whose memory is correct?
Thoughts? Musings? Insults?
Peace out, Sports Fans!
posted by Underling Revived @ 3:22 PM
3 Comments:
I was thinking of you tonight because I know how much you love TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD. I saw that new movie, CAPOTE. It was an exceptional film. Def. made my Top 5 of the year thus far! Anyway, I am not sure how familiar you are with Truman Capote -- but he grew up next door to the woman who wrote TKMB --- and the two remained good friends. She played a crucial part in his research for his horrific novel, IN COLD BLOOD. Catherine Keener played her in the movie. I studied a lot about Capote when I was in college so I was quite familiar with the events that the film followed, but I had never thought much about Harper. I left the movie wanting to re-read TKMB. Might have to pick up a copy this weekend!
See the movie!
...I guess it is in general release. Tho, I saw it an art house cinema. Anyway, you will love it -- tho, it is a bit disturbing -- not as much as the end product novel, but a bit upsetting. ...or, unsettling, maybe.
there... the longest comment posting in histroy! LOL! kisses, matt
This morning, on the subway, I was thinking about what you wrote regarding the way human memory works and I thought of this great interview with Jodie Foster I read back at the time she made that upsetting movie about rape in the late 80's. Anyway, in the interview she talked about how she was tellling a friend about something she did and then she caught herself and realized that she had never done it at all. ...she had read it in a book and loved it so much she somehow managed to build it into her own memory. I liked that and the honesty of sharing it with a national magzine.
Actually, I just read about this topic this morning, and it's a really interesting subject to think about. Your memory is selective and interpretive - some psychologists believe different people's memories of the same event may be drastically different, depending on how much of a role said person played in the event, and whether they were cast in a favorable or unflattering role. Because each person's memory is centered around themselves, from their point of view, a lot of times people tend to remember events in a way that flatters themselves, and memories about blunders or failures are either fuzzy or just gone.
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