In this hands-on workshop (and last theory episode for a bit), Dr. John and ANI start to transition from theory to talking about actual Canadian historical events. We explore the Positionality Audit—a tool for uncovering the hidden lenses that shape our understanding of the past. Using the War of 1812 as an example, we demonstrate how personal "Positionality" and ‘bias’ can transform the same historical events into entirely different stories.

The Workshop Challenge This session is meant to explore your own biases of the histories you have all been told toward the histories you should instead search for and tell.

• Download the Worksheet: Visit HistoryIsUnreal.ca for the Bias Elevator Speech Worksheet PDF.
• Follow Along: Pause the audio during the "Workshop elevator" music to complete your own audit.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Positionality Audit: The process of identifying how your geography, upbringing, and "Success Nodes" influence your historical interpretation.
• The War of 1812 Case Study: An analysis of how one’s national identity bias changes historical ‘facts’.
• History from Below (Social History): A focus on the lived experiences of everyday people and marginalized groups rather than just elite leaders/grand narratives.
• Success Nodes: A linear model of history that connects "victories" into a clean line of progress, often erasing the "messy" reality of those who lost/those in the field.

Sources & References

• E.H. Carr: What is History?(1961). The foundational "Fishmonger" analogy for historian bias.
• Marc Bloch: The Historian's Craft. Exploring how the "Present" influences our view of the "Past."
• The War of 1812 (CHA): The War of 1812: Shared Victory?
• George Iggers: Historiography in the Twentieth Century.

Connect with the Show

• Website: HistoryIsUnreal.ca
• Support the Research: consider a donation to keep this independent podcast alive; and visit our sponsors, leave a comment on the site.
• Subscribe: Available on all major podcast platforms.
• Academic Services: fontaineacademicservices.ca
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Music Credits

Track: Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 'Winter'

• Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
• Performed by: The Modena Chamber Orchestra
• Source: Musopen.org
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Workshop Interlude: The NASA Elevator Source: traaacks! Attribution: Music by traaacks! - https://www.traaacks.com

"History is not factual; it is interpretive, and it is messy. Keep questioning the teller."