Discussion questions Hartman/Butler by

2025-10-09 12:55:06 UTC

Past shows up uninvited: Dana is literally pulled into the past.
Wake: The paat comes up in the present.
Butler: Labour Agency as "slave market"
P. 104: smells -> whipping: seeing it on screen vs smelling it
In the present we represent the violence of slavery on screen but we forget that it was actually a visceral thing that happened. -> reading vs living history
History as narrative -> only time travelling allows Dana to reflect on difference between historiograohy vs history

Fixing history doesn’t “undo” past events

2025-10-09 12:55:07 UTC

It‘s a form of respect for sure, for the reader it‘s very frustrating which reflects the fate of enslaved people. It breaks down the romanticisation of the south with „big, beautiful houses“ and „that the slaves were content working there“

2025-10-09 12:56:14 UTC

What is the goal?

2025-10-09 12:56:26 UTC

The question of what the goal of "fixing" history is. Is it for a new present? A desired future for both the past and the present?

2025-10-09 12:57:04 UTC

While trying to ensure her lineage exists, Dana often imagines to which extent she can manipulate history. She thinks of these „what could have been“ questions, such as what if she would help Alice gain her freedom? What if her action leads to Hagar never being born, and thus, her own death?

2025-10-09 12:59:07 UTC

Dana becoming the subject in history she read about
"Playing a role" vs. being an observer vs. living it as a subject -> When are you observer? When are you part of history?
Who should feel responsible for doing wake work / critical fabulation? -> always being critical of own position

2025-10-09 12:59:11 UTC

history is not historiography

2025-10-09 12:59:34 UTC

History cannot be fixed, only explained and shown.

„Venus“ as a symbol works as a symbol, you cannot individualize „her“ because there is no sufficient record of what enslaved women had to endure.

2025-10-09 13:01:41 UTC

You can link it back to the wake: the present is always informed by the past, it is also true for Dana's life (or anyone's) aswell as in politics. Bringing up the history is kind of a wake work (?)