October 2014

Technically, class-consciousness has not been conceived of as psychological consciousness.  It has been separated from ‘the empirically given, and from the psychologically describable and explicable ideas that men form about their situation in life’, and has been seen rather as a possible set of reactions people might have to discovering the implications of the position […]

This week I read Landscape for a Good Woman before A crooked Line, and I think it might not be a good idea. Not only because Eley provides the background of Landscape for a Good Woman, but also because compared with most academic books, Carolyn Steedman takes a very special way, an autobiographical approach. I […]

Both of our readings for this week, “Landscape for a Good Woman” and “A Crooked Line,” use an autobiographical framework to situate the reader in…

Yes, I know. It’s a math equation, to be precise, a physics equation. And Yes, I know it is strange to have a physics equation in a post on history. And Yes, I know, I better explain. This week’s readings … Continue reading →

“Steedman is better described as a historian who understands the theoretical and philosophical implications of doing historical work. She pushes edgily on the boundaries of what historians think they do, but she manages to combine social and cultural history without turning the results into some risk-free and reassuring middle way…She makes the ‘cultural turn’ without […]

I will have to admit that I enjoyed Geoff Eley’s A Crooked Line a bit more this time around. In particular, I appreciated his insight into the history of history, in Germany and elsewhere. I like being able to explore the background of history and it is one aspect of our class that I am […]

I had a little confusion this week. Actually, more like many questions about unclear moments that I think discussion will clear up quickly. By unclear moments, I mean thoughts of “why are we actually reading this?” I’m sure I will Continue reading →