Discussion Questions

Foley Food Mill by Amy B. Werbel (Prown/Haltman pg 229-242)

In this article, Werbel compares the role of women to the role of the food mill, saying “…the woman’s role can be seen as a mill of sorts, processing the world and making it digestible for those around here.” (pg. 240). Do you agree with this analogy that women are conditioned by society to “smooth things out” for the people around them? Does geography play a role in this?

Postmodern Virtualities by Mark Poster (Durham/Kellner pg. 533-548)

Poster argues that “virtual reality” is a dangerous term because it suggests that reality can be multiple and take many forms (pg. 538). He later states “Visual representations of the unconscious…are irresistible compared to everyday realiy…” (pg. 546). Do you find this to be true? Are “virtual realities” such as the Internet and films more appealing than actual reality? Why do you think this is?

Artifacts as Expressions of Society and Culture: Subversive Genealogy and the Value of History by Mark P. Leone and Barbara J. Little (Lubar/Kingery pg. 160-181)

Based on a 1971 article by Shklar, Leone and Little argue that “Questioning the origins of social relations and authority is subversive and dangerous because it calls into question the status quo” (pg. 173). They use this point to argue that one of the problems with the place of history in our society is the focus on accuracy and completeness found in the museum world. This focus causes the work of museum professionals and local historians to lean on and be embedded in the status quo. Do you think that we as a society are afraid of questioning the status quo? Why or why not?