DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
boob tube
The American Historical Association is among the top professional organizations for academic and public historians alike — distinctions that most people don’t know or care about, but which have deep implications for how we construct and debate our shared past. In addition to book reviews, standalone essays and other ruminations, the AHA publishes think pieces about the ways history is consumed and talked about by the public. While academic historians are engaged in research, the production of monographs and teaching, public historians are most often found working in museums, libraries, interpretive centers and the like. As it turns out, according to my recent reading of an AHA report on “Where Do People Get Their History,” neither academic nor public historians are most folks’ go-to source for their knowledge of bygone days. Rather, “the top three choices were all video format …” according to the AHA. “Of note is that such sources are readily available, usually take minimal effort to engage and may ask for little imagination on the part of the viewer.” Asked how they accessed “history,” fully 69% of survey respondents identified “documentary film/TV,” followed by “fictional film/TV,” which 66% of survey-takers named. Third-place for historical knowledge attainment was “TV news,” God help us, at 62%. According to the survey, “history lecture” came in at 12%; then “history-related video game” and “DNA test,” both at 11%; and in dead-last place, “college course,” at 8%.
Zoltar
A few months ago, in the spring, I went with my family to the Oregon Coast, where we threw a few bucks into the Zoltar fortune teller machine and received some hard truths. Zoltar, in all his animatronic Uncanny Valley majesty, told my wife that she needed to get rid of a person in her life who was holding her back (me?). He told me to stop complaining and just make a big move to improve my life (could be any number of things?). I don’t know why we went back for more, but for some reason we now own a pocket-sized Zoltar that spits out advice at the touch of a button. Here’s what he just told me: “Remember, it is a great deal better to do all the things you should, than to spend the rest of your life wishing you had.”
b-ball
This comes pretty close to creeping on the “Read, Listen, Watch” column, but I have to rave about a book at the East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint Branch. The Grand Medieval Bestiary is a thing of wonder, which my son checked out in the past week. I reckon it weighs about five pounds; measures more than two square feet; encompasses 500-ish pages in length; and is filled with the most gorgeous, weird and fascinating images since the 15th century. My favorite tidbit: Medieval folks thought beaver testicles were a cure-all, and were convinced that beavers bit off their own testicles (then stood up to display the evidence of their self-castration) to avoid falling under the hunters’ knives. What?
It’s the second and final week of the 2023 Festival at Sandpoint, with another group of talented performers gracing the biggest stage in Sandpoint. If the first week of shows is any indication of the final lineup, we’re in for a treat. Special thanks to Racheal Baker for her always awesome photographs from the Festival. You can see Racheal’s photos on this week’s cover, as well as the special double-truck photo spread from Week 1 on Pages 12-13. We’ll also publish another double-truck of Festival photos from Week 2 in the Thursday, Aug. 10 edition of the Reader. Summer is kicking right along, so make sure you check out the packed events calendar on Page 18. The Sandpoint Summer Music Series is returning to Farmin Park for another free concert with the B-Side Players on Thursday, Aug. 10 and the Bonner County Fair is coming up Wednesday, Aug. 16-Saturday, Aug. 19, so mark your calendars. Hope you all have a wonderful day out there. Now go jump in the lake.
– Ben Olson, publisher
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sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Staff Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (emeritus) Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Kelsey Kizer kelsey@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Racheal Baker (cover), Ben Olson, Rick Reed, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Emily Erickson, Rep. Lauren Necochea, Rick Reed, Sandy Compton, Terry Owens, Leigh Livingstone Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $165 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: sandpointreader.com About the Cover
This week’s cover photo was taken by the inimitable Racheal Baker. Check out more of her work on Pages 12-13 August 3, 2023 / R / 3