I was halfway to a Masters degree in History when I had to bail for financial reasons, but it never stopped me from continuing to study. When I mention this to people, I sometimes get a strong reaction. So many people say they hated studying history because they had some very unsuccessful, draconian high school teacher who made them memorise dates and didn’t make the subject engaging at all. Here is where Antiques Roadshow comes in. I can’t think of a show that interweaves lived experience with history any more than this show that is stereotypically watched by grandmas with a blanket on their lap.
There are things in common with the folks who are on this show. A great many of them have suffered a loss, and are on the show to see what the story is behind a family heirloom. I’ve never inherited anything notable other than a drawer full of my grandpa’s old sketches and art supplies, but I don’t think I’d have the strength to go on national television to talk about it. These are human stories and while the history of inherited objects are discussed, it is interwoven with the emotion involved in receiving the item and the fond attachment people have towards a watch, or a statue, or a painting that has been on the wall for 30 years. Then there are the people who have rock memorabilia, or a dress from the 60s, and they’re showing a passion for history and making it quite clear why these things actually matter.
One can look at this show and go “well that’s materialism”, but what about the other folks who bring in artifacts? There are some problematic ones, especially the white folks who show up with ceremonial swords from the South Pacific and such, but they are objects of significance and societal value. The ancient things someone dug up in their garden show us how we used to live, and all of this is explained in great detail by someone who has more experience than I ever will. There is a passion here, both from the folks who bring in their items, and the people telling them the story.
History is a story, it is made up of people experiencing excitement and great loss. Those unfortunate former students who slogged through some ineffective high school course were unfortunately deprived of the vividness of the people and things who came before us. Maybe they need a blanket, a cup of tea, and an episode of Antiques Roadshow.