History… in pieces
History… in pieces
Author(s): Zenia DuellSubject(s): History, Semiotics / Semiology, Theoretical Linguistics, Studies of Literature, Epistemology, Communication studies, Contemporary Philosophy, Philosophy of Language, Personality Psychology, Methodology and research technology, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego
Keywords: fragmentation; narratology; discourse; historiography
Summary/Abstract: This article examines the fragmentation of history in popular storytelling media, arguing that such fragmentation reveals more about contemporary narrative trends than about history itself. Drawing on narratological theory and the author’s experience as a TV producer, it positions fragmentation as an inevitable aspect of historical storytelling rather than a consequence of modern media. The analysis explores three dimensions: the theoretical necessity of narrative fragmentation (White, Fludernik), debates between advocates of democratized access versus critics concerned with oversimplification of traumatic events, and a heuristic perspective revealing how sensationalized fragments can be co-opted into politically motivated narratives. While acknowledging benefits of increased accessibility and representation of marginalized voices, the article highlights risks including the proliferation of ahistorical content serving extremist ideologies. The author concludes by advocating for an interdisciplinary, sociologically-informed approach to discourse analysis that examines the social forces driving contemporary reconstructions of the past.
Journal: Fabrica Litterarum Polono-Italica
- Issue Year: 11/2026
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 1-8
- Page Count: 8
- Language: English
