Excerpts from Dissertation..
It all begins with an idea.
An Auto-Ethnographic Exploration and Analysis of My Heritage: With Interplayed Discussions on the Spectrum of Objectivity, Fact-Making, and Reciprocal Relationships Between Individual's Stance and Their Cultural Backgrounds.
Regarding; Historians, Authors and Artists.
In my 2023 Bachelor of Arts final year dissertation, I challenge the reliability of traditional historical analysis by exploring how personal experiences and biases shape our understanding of history. It argues that historians' interpretations are influenced by sociocultural experiences, leading to subjective biases. Using auto-ethnographic and socio-cultural approaches, the essay examines the impact of these biases on decision-making, perception, historical and cultural interpretations. In order to do so, it focuses on personal experiences, archaeological site visits, and ancestral heritage, particularly exploring ancient Mesopotamian artefacts, art and mythology within the context of my university project themes that focus on my ethnic Mesopotamian heritage.
Section: Historians and Their Facts
“ …To elaborate, the cultures formed within a society shape the norms and values of the individual, regardless of their awareness of the situation. For instance, a society that subsists through colonial farming and has embraced a colonial way of subsisting as the norm, would have a different position on the events that resulted in the exploitation of the land (such as war, treaty, etc) to the indigenous community that lives on the land. And as a result, their chosen words to explain the events would differ, containing different implications. Often as educated historians are the subjects of the western education system and aristocratic groups, their stand on similar matters becomes influenced by their agenda and stance…“(Kilercioglu, p.2)
"…The history we read, though based on facts, is, strictly speaking, not factual at all, but a series of accepted judgments." ( Barraclough,1955,p.14). Carr argues that those historians that make the 'judgments' usually belong to the same group of society ( i.e.: Sons of wealthy families that study at Oxford.) and come up with conclusions that fit their own interpretations and ideals, which consequent in a biassed result being demonstrated as a fact.
Furthermore, in the case that one side's experience and facts of an event is being ignored by the historian or being disregarded because of the historian's interpretations, their process would signify a level of internalised inferiority and self-righteousness in their character. For those reasons, as Carr suggests, it is significant to understand what kind of stand and personality the historian has since the avoidance to do so will result in an illusive comprehension of the written work (Carr, 1987, p.23). Every individual's understanding of their environment and events correlates to how they perceive and interpret actions. This is shaped by how the brain relates to information through its own emotional and physical experience in the world, its genetic memory, and the effect of the individual's interaction with the environment's culture and values. To deny or aim to act without those values, to be an 'objective scientist' would require a person to not deal with any qualitative data and their work to have no relation to any work involving judgement, comparison or commentary… “ (Kilercioglu, p.3)
Section: Artists and Their Artwork
“…My argument on how a historian's and author's background affects their stance and work, artist's making process and produced outcome is highly influenced by the same factors. When the audience interacts with an artwork, the artist's identity's influence on the art could be observed. The brushstrokes, colours, style of work and design are a result of the artist's decisions. So, when the audience interacts with the artwork, the audience's attention and reactions are a unique experience formed by their interpretation of the artist's decisions. Artist's decisions may involve cultural and personal influences, their subconscious, and their methods of artistic expression. However, David Ulrich states in his article' Art and Consciousness': "I have found consistently that, though individual responses differ based on the subjectivity of the viewer, they generally all revolve around a single point." (Ulrich, 2016) He further explains that while the audience follows a general idea, their focus and emphasis differ. Since the audience shares a global culture, the main understanding remains similar. Which demonstrates global mainstream cultures factor on the similar ways we interpret information, as well as the focus and attention areas differ by personal experiences…” (Kilercioglu,p.5)
Section: Personal Narrative
Growing up with the influences of western mythologies in fantasy books, cartoons and movies in Turkey, I have realised It must not be coincident that Mesopotamian civilisations once so rich and powerful with many artefacts remaining were not involved in any learning or entertainment material. For instance, I don't remember seeing any Mesopotamia mythology related books in bookshops or as cartoons/movies I could watch. Realising I have unconsciously been directed toward more westernised cultures, without having an opportunity to first learn about my own culture and heritage had upset me deeply. Which was one of the reasons for my interest in understanding how history is written and the factors behind it. Since I have experienced the consequences of my education system's and the media's favour in history, I now comprehend how history is an essential part of our society and ill-minded use of it can erase cultures and control the identity of people. My realisation of the situation resulted in my deep interest and passion for learning about ancient Mesopotamian civilisations' culture and religion. (Kilercioglu, p.7)
Section: Personal Narrative
“My exploration of heritage has led me to an in-depth study of my ancestral roots of ancient Mesopotamian mythology, culture and archaeology. The issues I observed regarding political and historical under representations, social and cultural injustices have led me to question the trustworthiness of historical facts. This questioning process enabled my research on how historical facts are made in the traditional system and understanding of the sociocultural factors on how people form their opinions. During my research I formed my statement on why complete objective fact-making and analysis that involves experience is unreachable. My cultural and ancestral heritage's complexities involving middle eastern politics, my upbringing and personal experience influenced my interest in ancient Mesopotamian culture, and the effects of the environment on the individual's cognitive perception. The argument of the connection between the individual's background and conclusive analysis of information was supported by my subjective ethnographic observation of personal experiences and culture that may have affected my decisions on selecting my project topic and making process. My theoretical framework brought me to the conclusion that we must first understand the people who create our facts and information before believing what is presented to us. Understanding their stance and background would enable us to make more informed decisions when choosing what idea and truth to believe and follow. “ (Kilercioglu, p.14)