The Historical Abyss - Daniel Small
History is always being imaginatively figured as it is seemingly figured out. This course will proceed from the notion that history is not written from the certitude of concrete facts, but rather in the productive unreliability of lived and invested memories, myths, ideologies, stories, and dreams. It will also seek to recognize that these errors, myths, and confabulations lead us through and beyond facts to their meanings and that the dubious reliability of such wrong tales enhance their historical value in that they allow us to recognize the objectives of the tellers and the intentions and desires behind them. Topics of discussion include: art forgeries, abandoned film sets, theme parks, and casino designs. Through a triangulation of past, present, and possible future, the synthesis of these sites and objects will be examined for potentially constituting more authentic versions of the histories they seemingly approximate. The course will take on a myriad of forms, including lectures and discussions with diverse specialists, for example FBI Agents, Curators, and Artists.