From the moment humanity learned to communicate its thoughts in speech, we’ve been storytellers. From Ancient Mesopotamia’s “The Epic of Gilgamesh,” to Homer’s “The Odyssey,” to Mario Puzo’s “The Godfather,” many of our stories have always blurred the line between truth and enchantment. When we romanticize parts of history, though, we perpetuate misconceptions about the past and struggle to analyze the nuances of each time period.
Glittering parties, towers of champagne glasses and dazzling chandeliers come to mind for most when asked about 1920s America. Flapper dresses, jazz snaking its way through a crowd of dancing couples — thanks to the misinterpretation of novels and films like F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” — the decade lives in the minds of many as an era of endless festivities and effortless glamour.
Under the sequins and saxophones, however, was a far more dreary reality. Any historian would tell you that the “Roaring ‘20s” were marked by rampant inequality, soaring nativism, Prohibition-era violence and an economy tumbling towards depression. This contrast between idealization and reality exhibits how deeply the media reshapes public perception of the past.
Part of the reason we prefer to remember and embellish the positive aspects of history over the negative is purely psychological. We fall victim to the fading affect bias, according to researchers from Northern Illinois University and Winston- Salem State University, where we tend to hang more on to positive memories than negative ones. Furthermore, their research found that experiences that felt negative in the moment were more likely to be remembered more positively over time than positive experiences that were later remembered as negative. This psychological phenomenon also applies to the greater community, explaining why we idealize history the way we do.
Modern mainstream entertainment also widens the gap between what we think happened and what actually happened during historical events. The historical literature and film industry are, at their core, businesses, and are inherently focused on prioritizing what will sell, what will captivate the widest audience and what will stand out in a competitive market. In pursuit of profit, these creators may emphasize spectacle and plot over accuracy, only sustaining the public’s perception and idealization of the past.
Another point of blame, sadly, is the curriculums of our education system. Many history classes around the country often oversimplify items like the immigrant experience, exploitation of the Native Americans and our extensive record of corporate corruption.
We don’t need to shun historically inaccurate works, but we must be mindful of our tendency to glorify certain people or time periods. When we discuss history, we must be sure to consider the underrepresented voices, often the silent majority. Schools can provide more primary sources from marginalized groups, giving students a more objective view of topics like systemic racism and wars, while still showcasing the ups in our stories.
When we employ critical thinking and make an effort into learning the whole story, we can break our cycle of misinformation and embellishment. There’s no harm in enjoying a guilty-pleasure movie night with friends, as long as we don’t allow Hollywood to be our history teacher.
