ABSTRACT
A strict distinction between the past and history may appear problematic. Misleadingly politicized conceptions also arise from erroneously equating history with the supposedly meaningful flow of human time. Consider the extraordinary idea of choosing to “be on the right side of history.” As literary scholars well know, the next most difficult thing after writing is reading. One may find amusing assertions in old history books. History can well be viewed as part of the larger field of cultural studies, for to understand any past event, one must situate it in the culture in which it took place. History is not, however, identical to cultural studies. Aspects of the past that historians manage to reveal tend to be soon found somehow irrelevant, even if most often for reasons that have more to do with current social views than with the purpose of studying history. This chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
