About:

About this class

Contested Histories, Conflicted Space: Understanding Historic Sites and Monuments

We can better understand the world today by studying the provocative people and events of the past. Learn about the differences between historic sites and monuments, what makes some of them so controversial, and how we can better understand each situation. Conflicts over the spaces derive from their contested narratives, but how do we decide which perspectives are appropriate in each circumstance? We will examine a number of major case studies, develop strategies for evaluating their histories, explore tools for helping us understand beyond our own opinions, and discuss as a group how we can all learn more and contribute constructively around us.

This is a 10-week virtual class using the Zoom platform.  Thursdays: Feb 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28 - 6:30-8:30 pm CST

Raffi Andonian is Amazon best-selling author of 3 books, professional public speaker, and producer and host of a streaming TV show that challenges the present by inquiring the past. He is the founder and CEO of Raffi's Regulars, dedicated to creating a community around connecting the past to the present with relevance by applying historical perspective to major current issues. He holds two degrees in history, a third in historic preservation, and another in nonprofit organizations. He began his career working as a guide at significant historic sites, having cumulatively led nearly 100,000 visitors at the Gettysburg battlefield, the Martin Luther King Jr. birth home, and the birthplace of the atomic bomb Los Alamos NM. He relies on these experiences to facilitate reflection and dialogue via media appearances and live events; aiming to promote understanding and inquiry about challenging topics in order to help us move toward a constructive direction that acknowledges nuance and integrates perspectives.

HND Value Statement

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this {article, book, exhibition, film, program, database, report, Web resource}, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Humanities North Dakota.

However, in an increasingly polarized world, we at Humanities North Dakota believe that being open-minded is necessary to thinking critically and rationally.

Therefore, our programs and classes reflect our own open-mindedness in the inquiry, seeking, and acquiring of scholars to speak at our events and teach classes for our Public University.

To that end, we encourage our participants to join us in stepping outside our comfort zones and considering other perspectives and ideas by being open-minded while attending HND events featuring scholars who hold a variety of opinions, some being opposite of our own held beliefs.